Power supply with modular integrated networking

• US 6,972,688 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rapaich, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John
• Application Number:
  US10/762,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20040157474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 340/693.1, 340/693.5, 340/310.01, 307/11, 307/43, 363/143
• US Class Current: 340/693.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form

Abstract

A power supply that has an integrated power line networking coupling circuit and a connector to accept a removable power line networking module. The power supply and associated system can be sold without power line networking or with power line networking, and if sold without power line networking, it can be upgraded at a later time to support power line networking. Additionally, power line networking modules can be replaced in the field if failures occur or for upgrade purposes if a more robust networking standard becomes available.

Claims

1. A power supply system comprising:

an enclosure;

a power line input that passes through said enclosure;

a power conversion circuit connected to said power line input and housed within said enclosure;

a power line networking signal coupling circuit connected to said power line input also housed within said enclosure; and

a first connector connected to said power line networking signal coupling circuit, said first connector adapted to mate with a second connector, said second connector mounted upon a removable power line networking module, said first connector and said second connector adapted to pass at least power line networking signals between said power line networking signal coupling circuit and said removable power line networking module.

2. A power supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power line input is a connector suitable to receive a power cord.

3. A power supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power line networking signal coupling circuit comprises a coupling capacitor and an isolation transformer.

4. A power supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said removable power line networking module includes a digital connector to pass networking signals to and from a host system.

5. A power supply system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said digital connector conforms to the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet specification.

6. A power supply system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said digital connector conforms to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification.

7. A computer system comprising:

a chassis;

at least a processor and a memory;

a power supply housed within an enclosure;

a power line input that passes through said enclosure and connects to said power supply;

a power conversion circuit connected to said power line input and housed within said enclosure;

a power line networking signal coupling circuit connected to said power line input also housed within said enclosure; and

a first connector connected to said power line networking signal coupling circuit, said first connector adapted to mate with a second connector, said second connector mounted upon a removable power line networking module, said first connector and said second connector adapted to pass power line networking signals between said power line networking signal coupling circuit and said removable power line networking module.

8. A computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said power line input is a connector suitable to receive a power cord.

9. A computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said power line networking signal coupling circuit comprises a coupling capacitor and an isolation transformer.

10. A computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said removable power line networking module includes a digital connector adapted to pass networking data to and from said processor.

11. A computer system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said digital connector conforms to the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet specification.

12. A computer system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said digital connector conforms to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification.

13. A means for providing a power supply system which can accept a power line networking upgrade module comprising:

a means for housing said power supply system;

a means for providing power line input that passes through said means for housing;

a means for converting said power line input to at least one output voltage substantially housed within said housing;

a means for coupling to power line networking signals, said means for coupling to power line networking signals connected to said means for providing power line input substantially housed within said means for housing; and

a means for connecting to said means for coupling to power line networking signals.

14. A means for providing a power supply system which can accept a power line networking upgrade module as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for providing power line input is a connector suitable to receive a power cord.

15. A means for providing a power supply system which can accept a power line networking upgrade module as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for coupling to power line networking signals comprises a coupling capacitor and an isolation transformer.

16. A means for providing a power supply system which can accept a power line networking upgrade module as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a means for providing a power line network interface module, said power line network interface module removably connected to said means for connecting to said means for coupling to power line networking signals and said power line network interface module having a digital connector.

17. A means for providing a power supply system which can accept a power line networking upgrade module as claimed in claim 16, wherein said digital connector conforms to the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet specification.

18. A means for providing a power supply system which can accept a power line networking upgrade module as claimed in claim 16, wherein said digital connector conforms to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification.

19. A power supply system comprising:

a frame;

a power line input that passes through said frame;

a power conversion circuit connected to said power line input and housed within said frame;

a power line networking signal coupling circuit connected to said power line input and housed within said frame; and

a first connector connected to said power line networking signal coupling circuit adapted to pass at least power line networking signals.

20. A power supply system as claimed in claim 19, whereas said power line input is a connector adapted to mate with a power cord.

21. A power supply system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said power line networking signal coupling circuit comprises a coupling capacitor and an isolation transformer.

22. A power supply system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a power line networking module, said power line networking module having a second connector adapted to mate with said first connector to provide a connection to said power line networking signal coupling circuit.

23. A power supply system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said power line networking module has a third connector adapted to connect to a system.

24. A power supply system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said third connector conforms to the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet specification.

25. A power supply system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said third connector conforms to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification.