Anti-Arcing Circuit
First Claim
1. A power adapter comprising:
- a connector connectable to a client device; and
an anti-arcing circuit configured to mitigate arcing during connection and disconnection of the connector to the client device by;
operating in a detection mode that suppresses power supplied to the client device from a power source via the power adapter;
monitoring to determine when a connection of the connector to the client device is established; and
in response to a determination that the connection of the connector to the client device is established, switching to an operational mode to supply a power level sufficient for operations of the client device.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Anti-arcing circuits are described herein that are configured to prevent or substantially mitigate arcing when a power adapter is connected/disconnected from a client device. The anti-arcing circuit restricts power supplied when a connection of a connector of a power adapter to the adapter interface is not fully established. The anti-arcing circuit is further configured to detect when a connection is made and remove the restriction to supply power for operations of the client device. In one approach, the anti-arcing circuit includes two different paths and components associated with a detection mode and operational mode respectively. In the detection mode, power supply is suppressed and a current pulse may be sent to determine if a connection is established. If current is detected, a switch is made to operational mode and power for normal device operations is supplied.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power adapter comprising:
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a connector connectable to a client device; and an anti-arcing circuit configured to mitigate arcing during connection and disconnection of the connector to the client device by; operating in a detection mode that suppresses power supplied to the client device from a power source via the power adapter; monitoring to determine when a connection of the connector to the client device is established; and in response to a determination that the connection of the connector to the client device is established, switching to an operational mode to supply a power level sufficient for operations of the client device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method implemented by an anti-arcing circuit for a power supply unit to mitigate arcing comprising:
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initiating the power supply unit in a detection mode that restricts power supplied to a client device; monitoring to detect a connection of the power supply unit to an interface of the client device; and operating the power supply unit in an operational mode to supply power to the client device responsive to detection of the connection to the interface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An anti-arcing circuit for a power adapter comprising:
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a first current path between a power source and a connector of the power adapter to restrict power from the power source when the connector is disconnected from a client device; a second current path between the power source and the connector to provide an operational power level for the client device when the connector is connected to the client device; and a hardware element to implement logic for monitoring connection of the connector to the client device and selectively switch between the first current path and second path to mitigate arcing, including checking whether or not the connector is connected to the client device by sending monitor pulses through the first current path and by sending a high signal through the second current path.
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18. The anti-arcing circuit as recited claim 18, wherein:
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the first current path comprises a first current detector and a first metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) to implement a detection mode; the second current path comprises a second current detector and a second metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) to implement an operational mode; and the hardware element is configured to selectively turn the first MOFSET and the second MOFSET on and off to switch between the detection mode and the operational mode. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification