Information Handling System Selective Local and Remote Charger Control

• US 20170295028A1
• Filed: 04/11/2016
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Pelissier, Gerald R., Turchin, III, Kevin M., Knepper, Lawrence E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,142,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

A portable information handling system selectively accepts power transferred from an external device through a port, such as USB Type C port, with one of a first or second power configuration. The first power configuration accepts power regulated by a charger of an external device and routed directly to a system bus and battery of the portable information handling system. The second power configuration accepts power regulated by an internal charger of the portable information handling system, such as a narrow voltage direct current charger.

Claims

1. A portable information handling system comprising:

a housing;

a processor disposed in the housing and operable to execute instructions to process information;

a memory disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the information;

a port disposed at the housing and operable to accept an external cable;

a port controller interfaced with the port and operable to communicate with external devices through the external cable;

a charger interfaced with the port and operable to accept power provided to the port and convert the power to a system voltage;

a switching device interfaced with the port and operable to selectively direct power from the port to one of either the charger or a system bus; and

a power manager interfaced with the port controller and the switching device, the power manager operable to selectively direct power with the switch based at least in part on information communicated from the external device through the port.

2. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the switching device comprises a multiplexer that selectively interfaces one of plural ports with one of either the charger or the system bus.

3. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the port comprises a USB Type C port.

4. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the charger comprises a narrow voltage direct current charger.

5. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the information comprises an identifier of the external device associated with power source capabilities of the external device.

6. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the information comprises an identifier of the information handling system associated with the power sink capabilities of the information handling system.

7. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the information comprises an available power capacity of the external device to provide power to the port.

8. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the information comprises a charge state of a battery integrated in the information handling system.

9. A method for providing power to a portable information handling system, the method comprising:

determining at the information handling system a battery charging characteristic of an external device coupled to a port of the information handling system;

directly coupling the port power to the information handling system voltage bus if the external device is a first type; and

directing power from the port through a charger and then to the system bus if the external device is a second type.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

determining a predetermined condition; and

in response to the predetermined condition, directing power through the charger for the external device of the first type.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein directing power through the charger further comprises:

activating a switch to connect power-in from the port to the charger; and

commanding an adjusted voltage for the power-in to the external device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the port comprises a USB Type C port.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising multiplexing a selected one of plural data ports to directly couple to the system voltage bus.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the charger comprises a narrow voltage direct current charger.

15. An information handling system power system comprising:

a battery;

a port operable to interface with an external power supply;

a charger operable to convert power received from the external power supply to an internal power supply voltage;

a switching device operable to selectively connect the external power supply with one of the charger or the battery; and

a power manager interfaced with the switching device and operable to select the connection to the charger or battery based at least in part on information communicated with the external power supply.

16. The portable information handling system power system of claim 15 wherein the power manager comprises a firmware module executing on a port controller.

17. The portable information handling system power system of claim 15 wherein the power manager is further operable to:

establish power transfer to the battery with a direct connection of the external power supply; and

selectively reconfigure power transfer through the charger based upon one or more predetermined conditions.

18. The portable information handling system power system of claim 15 wherein the port comprises a Type C port.

19. The portable information handling system power system of claim 15 wherein the charger comprises a narrow voltage direct current charger.

20. The portable information handling system power system of claim 15 wherein the information comprises an identifier associated with charger power transfer characteristics.