Flexible converter routing apparatus, system and method

• US 6,580,623 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monterey Research, LLC (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Williams, Timothy J., Larky, Steven P., Wright, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US09/967,260
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 363/78, 363/79, 363/80, 363/81, 363/84, 363/95, 307/66, 307/82
• US Class Current: 363/78
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/157 with digital control

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a flexible converter suitable for providing a routing function. A flexible converter of the present invention may provide a desired output utilizing a variety of methods, systems and apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. A routing apparatus may include a converter, at least one comparator and a controller. The converter is capable of providing an output supply from an input supply coupled to the converter, the output supply capable of routing between a first output and a second output. At least one comparator is coupled to the output supply of the converter, the comparator capable of measuring at least one power characteristic of the first output and the second output to a first electrical device and to a second electrical device. The controller is coupled to the comparator; the controller being capable of implementing a process within the converter such that the first output is routed to the first electrical device and the second output is routed to the second electrical device. The first output and the second output are monitored with the at least one comparator and the first output to the first electrical device and the second output to the second electrical device are re-routed based upon the monitoring by the comparator.

Claims

1. A routing apparatus, comprising:

(a) a converter capable of providing an output supply from an input supply coupled to said converter, said output supply capable of routing between a first output and a second output;

(b) at least one comparator coupled to said output supply of said converter, said comparator being capable of measuring at least one power characteristic of said first output and said second output to a first electrical device and to a second electrical device; and

(c) a controller coupled to said comparator;

said controller being capable of implementing a process within said converter such that said first output is routed to said first electrical device and said second output is routed to said second electrical device, and said first output and said second output are monitored with the at least one comparator and said first output to said first electrical device and said second output to said second electrical device are re-routed based upon said monitoring by said comparator.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said power characteristics include at least one of a voltage level, a current level, a frequency level, and a signal clarity level.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said converter is capable of adjusting at least one of said first output and said second output by varying an amount of current received by a load receiving said output supply.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein said amount of current, received by at least one of said first electrical device and said second electrical device, is manipulated by altering at least one of a duty cycle and a frequency of a clock generated by a clock source.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the first electrical device and the second electrical device are placed in a hierarchy so that said first output to said first electrical device and said second output to said second electrical device are routed based upon the hierarchy.

6. The apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein the first electrical device and the second electrical device are placed in the hierarchy based on at least one of criticality of use, sensitivity to fluctuation and power characteristic.

7. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said first output is routed to said first electrical device and said second output is routed to said second electrical device based upon a determined initial configuration including a power characteristic of said first electrical device and said second electrical device.

8. A system for routing an input power supply into a first desired output supply and a second desired output supply, comprising:

(a) a converter capable of providing an output supply from an input supply coupled to said converter, said output supply capable of routing between a first output and a second output;

(b) a first electrical device electrically connected to said first output, said first electrical device having a first power characteristic;

(c) a second electrical device electrically connected to said second output, said second electrical device having a second power characteristic;

(d) at least one comparator coupled to said output supply of said converter, said comparator being capable of measuring said first power characteristic and said second power characteristic in relation to target power characteristics of said first electrical device and of said second electrical device; and

(e) a controller coupled to said comparator;

said controller being capable of implementing a process within said converter such that said first output is routed to said first electrical device and said second output is routed to said second electrical device based on a determined initial configuration including said first power characteristic and said second power characteristic, wherein when said controller receives an indication of a change in said first power characteristic to said first electrical device, said first output to said first electrical device and said second output to said second electrical device are re-routed to provide said changed first power characteristic to said first electrical device.

9. The system as described in claim 8, wherein said power characteristics include at least one of a voltage level, a current level, a frequency level, and a signal clarity level.

10. The system as described in claim 8, wherein said controller receives the indication by at least one of monitoring said first electrical device and data received from said first electrical device, said first electrical device communicatively connected to said controller.

11. The system as described in claim 10, wherein data includes protocol data.

12. The system as described in claim 8, wherein said converter is capable of adjusting at least one of said first output and said second output by varying an amount of current received by a load, wherein said amount of current, received by at least one of said first electrical device and said second electrical device, is manipulated by altering at least one of a duty cycle and a frequency of a clock generated by a clock source.

13. A method, comprising:

generating a first output having a first power characteristic and a second output having a second power characteristic, said first power output provided to a first electric device and said second output provided to a second electrical device;

monitoring said first output and said second output with a comparator, the comparator suitable for measuring said first power characteristic and said second power characteristic; and

routing said first output to said first electrical device and said second output to said second electrical device based on measured first power characteristic and measured second power characteristic.

14. The method as described in claim 13, wherein the power characteristic includes at least one of voltage, current, noise, signal clarity and duty cycle.

15. The method as described in claim 13, further comprising determining an initial power configuration for the comparator by a controller, the initial power configuration including power characteristics of said first electric device and said second electrical device.

16. The method as described in claim 15, wherein at least one of said first output and said second output is routed based on the determined configuration, and wherein said monitored first output power characteristics changes, routing said first power to said first electrical device and said second output to said second electrical device based on the monitored characteristic change.

17. The method as described in claim 13, wherein said first electrical device and said second electrical device are suitable for attaining a first power-saving level and a second power intensive level, routing is performed based on said first output to the first electrical device at a power characteristic having the first power saving level and said second output to said second electrical device at a power characteristic having said second power intensive level.

18. The method as described in claim 17, wherein said routing is performed in response to a power intensive condition entered into by said second electrical device.

19. The method as described in claim 13, wherein said first monitored output and said second monitored output are utilized in conjunction with routing so that power is routed by said converter between said first electrical device and said second electrical device.

20. The method as described in claim 13, wherein said first electrical device and said second electrical device are placed in a hierarchy, said first output to said first electrical device and said second output to said second electrical device are routed based upon said hierarchy.