Connectors adapted for controlling a small form factor power supply
First Claim
1. A connector capable of being coupled between a portable appliance and a power supply for transmitting a voltage and a current to the portable appliance, the connector comprising:
- a first set of conductive pins adapted for coupling to a power terminal on the portable appliance to apply the voltage and current to the portable appliance;
a second set of conductive pins adapted for coupling to a terminal on the power supply to receive the voltage and current;
a plurality of conductors coupled between the first and second sets of conductive pins; and
one or more resistive elements, each resistive element coupled between two of the conductors, whereinthe one or more resistive elements have resistances which are detectable at the terminal of the power supply for programming the power supply to provide one of a current and a voltage which is suitable for at least one of powering operation of the portable appliance and recharging a rechargeable battery disposed within the portable appliance.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to mechanisms for programming power supply circuitry for providing an appropriate current or voltage to powering portable devices or recharge batteries. More particularly, a power supply is coupled to a portable device of battery through a connector which is associated with the portable device or battery. The connecter includes resistive circuitry which is detectable at the power supply for programming the power supply to provide the appropriate voltage or current associated with the portable device or battery.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A connector capable of being coupled between a portable appliance and a power supply for transmitting a voltage and a current to the portable appliance, the connector comprising:
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a first set of conductive pins adapted for coupling to a power terminal on the portable appliance to apply the voltage and current to the portable appliance; a second set of conductive pins adapted for coupling to a terminal on the power supply to receive the voltage and current; a plurality of conductors coupled between the first and second sets of conductive pins; and one or more resistive elements, each resistive element coupled between two of the conductors, wherein the one or more resistive elements have resistances which are detectable at the terminal of the power supply for programming the power supply to provide one of a current and a voltage which is suitable for at least one of powering operation of the portable appliance and recharging a rechargeable battery disposed within the portable appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A circuit for programming a power supply for transmitting a voltage and a current to a rechargeable battery in a portable appliance, the circuit comprising:
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a plurality of conductors adapted for coupling to a terminal on the power supply; a first battery conductor adapted for coupling to a first terminal of the rechargeable battery; a second battery conductor adapted for coupling to a second terminal of the rechargeable battery; and one or more resistive elements, each resistive element coupled between two of the conductors adapted for coupling to the terminal on the power supply, wherein the one or more resistive elements have resistances which are detectable at the terminal of the power supply for programming the power supply to provide one of a set current through the first and second battery conductors and a set voltage across the first and second battery conductors. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A circuit for programming a power supply for transmitting a voltage and a current to a power terminal of a portable appliance, the circuit comprising:
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a first conductor adaptable for coupling to a first power pin at a power terminal of the portable appliance; a second conductor adaptable for coupling to a second power pin at the power terminal of the portable appliance; a third conductor adaptable for coupling to a first programming pin of the power supply; and a first active device for providing one of a set current and a set voltage to the third conductor to program the power supply to apply one of a set current through at least one of the first and second conductors, and a set voltage across the first and second conductors. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A connector capable of being coupled between a portable appliance and a power supply for transmitting a voltage and a current to the portable appliance, the connector comprising:
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a first set of conductive pins adapted for coupling to a power terminal on the portable appliance to apply the voltage and current to the portable appliance; a second set of conductive pins adapted for coupling to a terminal on the power supply to receive the voltage and current; a plurality of conductors coupled between the first and second sets of conductive pins; and a first active device for providing one of a set current and a set voltage to at least one of the conductive pins of the second set of conductive pins to program the power supply to apply one of a set current through at least one of the conductive pins of the first set of conductive pins, and a set voltage across two of the conductive pins of the first set of conductive pins.
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12. A method for programming a programmable power supply to provide one of a set voltage and a set current to a portable appliance, the method comprising:
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coupling a first terminal of a connector to the power supply, the first terminal having a plurality of conductive pins adapted for coupling to the power supply; coupling a second terminal of the connector to a power terminal of the portable appliance, the second terminal having a plurality of conductive pins adapted for coupling to a power terminal of the portable appliance, the connector including conductors for coupling between at least some of the conductive pins of the first terminal and some of the conductive pins of the second terminal; providing a one or more resistive elements to be coupled between two of the conductors; and detecting the resistance of at least one of the resistive elements at the power supply to program the power supply to provide one of a set current and a set voltage which is suitable for at least one of powering operation of the portable appliance and recharging a rechargeable battery disposed within the portable appliance. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for programming a programmable power supply to provide one of a set voltage and a set current to a portable appliance, the method comprising:
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coupling a first terminal of a connector to the power supply, the first terminal having a plurality of conductive pins adapted for coupling to the power supply; coupling a second terminal of the connector to a power terminal of the portable appliance, the second terminal having a plurality of conductive pins adapted for coupling to a power terminal of the portable appliance, the connector including conductors for coupling between at least some of the conductive pins of the first terminal and some of the conductive pins of the second terminal; and providing one of a set voltage and a set current from an active device formed in the connector to at least one of the conductive pins of the first terminal to program the power supply to provide one of a set current and a set voltage which is suitable for at least one of powering operation of the portable appliance and recharging a rechargeable battery disposed within the portable appliance.
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16. A connector capable of being coupled between a corresponding portable appliance and a power supply for transmitting a voltage and a current to the portable appliance, the portable appliance having an input voltage requirement and input current requirement, the connector comprising:
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a first set of conductive pins adapted for coupling to a power terminal on the portable appliance to apply the voltage and current to the portable appliance; a second set of conductive pins adapted for coupling to a terminal on the power supply to receive the voltage and current; voltage programming circuitry capable of communicating with the power supply for programming the power supply to provide power at the second set of conductive pins to substantially meet the input voltage requirement; and current programming circuitry capable of communicating with the power supply for programming the power supply to provide the power at the second set of conductive pins to substantially meet the input current requirement. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for providing power to any one of a plurality of portable appliances, each of the portable appliances having an associated input voltage requirement and an associated input current requirement, the system comprising:
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a power supply having an output power terminal; and a plurality of connectors, each connector corresponding to one of the plurality of portable appliances and being capable of coupling between an input power terminal of the corresponding portable appliance and the output power terminal of the power supply, each of the connectors having voltage programming circuitry capable of communicating with the output terminal of the power supply for programming the power supply to provide power to the corresponding portable appliance to substantially meet the input voltage requirement associated with corresponding portable appliance, and current programming circuitry for communicating with the power supply for programming the power supply to provide the power to the corresponding portable appliance to substantially meet the input current requirement associated with the corresponding portable appliance. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. The method of providing power to a selected one of a plurality of portable appliances from an output terminal of a power supply, each of the portable appliances having an associated input voltage requirement and a corresponding input current requirement, the method comprising:
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selecting one of a plurality of connectors corresponding with the selected portable appliance, each connector corresponding with one of plurality of portable appliances and being capable of coupling between an input power terminal of the corresponding portable appliance and the output power terminal of the power supply, each of the connectors having voltage programming circuitry capable of communicating with the output terminal of the power supply for programming the power supply to provide power to the corresponding portable appliance to substantially meet the input voltage requirement associated with the corresponding portable appliance, and current programming circuitry for communicating with the power supply for programming the power supply to provide the power to the portable appliance to substantially meet the input current requirement associated with the corresponding portable appliance; and coupling the selected connector between the output terminal of the power supply and the selected appliance to power the selected appliance at the input voltage requirement and the input current requirement associated with the selected portable appliance. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification