Adjusting Delivery of Current in a Connection Based on Temperature

• US 20120294332A1
• Filed: 05/17/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris PowerLED Technologies, LLC (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Smsc Holdings Sarl (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Monks, Morgan H., Gay, Kenneth W., Knowlton, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,740,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/152
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/14 in respect of space
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Adjusting current based on temperature. A change in temperature of a connection between a first device and a second device may be measured. The change in temperature may be performed while the first device provides current to the second device over the connection. If the change in temperature is above a threshold, the current being provided from the first device to the second device may be reduced. The change in temperature may be performed by the first device and/or the second device, e.g., by measuring the temperature of a connector of the connection.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting current based on temperature, comprising:

determining a change in temperature of a connection between a first device and a second device, wherein said determining the change in temperature is performed while the first device provides current to the second device over the connection;

determining if the change in temperature is above a threshold;

if the change in temperature is above the threshold, reducing the current being provided from the first device to the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the change in temperature, said determining if the change in temperature is above the threshold, and said reducing the current is performed a plurality of times while the first device provides current to the second device over the connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises:

determining an ambient temperature;

determining a temperature of a first connector of the connection; and

determining the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the first connector of the connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises:

determining an initial temperature of a first connector of the connection at a first time;

determining a current temperature of the first connector of the connection at a second time; and

determining the difference between the initial temperature and the current temperature.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises:

determining a temperature of a first connector of the connection by measuring a temperature of an electrical assembly connected to the first connector of the first device or the second device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises:

determining a temperature near a power pin of a first connector of the connection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises:

determining a temperature near a data pin of a first connector of the connection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the change in temperature uses an integrated circuit of the first device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the change in temperature uses an integrated circuit of the second device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said reducing the current is performed by the first device.

11. A device, comprising:

a first port for coupling to a second device over a connection, wherein the first port is configured to receive a first connector of the connection;

first logic coupled to the first port, wherein the first logic is configured to determine a temperature of the connection; and

second logic, wherein the second logic is configured to provide current to the second device over the connection;

wherein, in response to the first logic determining a change in temperature above a threshold, the second logic is configured to reduce the current being provided from the first device to the second device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises:

determining an ambient temperature;

determining a temperature of the first connector of the connection; and

determining the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the first connector of the connection.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises:

determining an initial temperature of the first connector of the connection at a first time;

determining a current temperature of the first connector of the connection at a second time; and

determining the difference between the initial temperature and the current temperature.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises:

determining a temperature of the first connector of the connection by measuring a temperature of the port.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises one or more of:

determining a temperature near a power pin of the first connector of the connection;

or

determining a temperature near a data pin of the first connector of the connection.

16. A device, comprising:

a first port for coupling to a second device over a connection, wherein the first port is configured to receive a first connector of the connection;

first logic coupled to the first port, wherein the first logic is configured to determine a temperature of the connection; and

second logic, wherein the second logic is configured to receive current from the second device over the connection;

wherein, in response to the first logic determining a change in temperature above a threshold, the second logic is configured to reduce the current being received from the second device.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises:

determining an ambient temperature;

determining a temperature of the first connector of the connection; and

determining the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature of the first connector of the connection.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises:

determining an initial temperature of the first connector of the connection at a first time;

determining a current temperature of the first connector of the connection at a second time; and

determining the difference between the initial temperature and the current temperature.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises:

determining a temperature of the first connector of the connection by measuring a temperature of the port.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein said determining the change in temperature comprises one or more of:

determining a temperature near a power pin of the first connector of the connection;

or

determining a temperature near a data pin of the first connector of the connection.