Tip having active circuitry

• US 7,365,524 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lanni, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Bao
• Application Number:
  US11/725,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 323/273, 323/274, 323/283, 323/284, 323/221, 323/282
• US Class Current: 323/274
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/56 using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices G05F1/461 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0045 Converters combining the concepts of switch-mode regulation and linear regulation, e.g. linear pre-regulator to switching converter, linear and switching converter in parallel, same converter or same transistor operating either in linear or switching mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc

Abstract

A power supply system includes an adapter to receive power from a power source, and output a regulated output voltage (V_out). A tip receives V_out from the adapter, and output V_out to an electronic device. The tip includes active circuitry to adjust a programming voltage (V_prog). V_prog is fed back to the adapter to control a magnitude of V_out.

Claims

1. A power supply system, comprising:

a power adapter to receive power from a power source and to output a first regulated output voltage (V_out), the power adapter including a regulation device;

a cable coupled to the power adapter, the cable having an associated resistance; and

a tip to receive a second regulated output voltage from the power adapter through the cable through a first connector and provide the second regulated output voltage to the power adapter through a second connector, the second regulated output voltage being based upon the first regulated output voltage but subject to a voltage loss in the cable, the tip including circuitry to provide a fraction of the second regulated output voltage to a voltage regulator to set a programming voltage (V_prog) based on comparing the fraction of the second regulated output voltage to a reference voltage, the programming voltage being output through the first connector and the cable to control a magnitude of the first output voltage output by the power adapter.

2. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the power adapter has a quicker response time in providing the first regulated output voltage (V_out) due to feedback of the the programming voltage (V_prog).

3. The power supply according to claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator is selected based upon its predetermined regulation characteristics.

4. The power supply system of claim 1, where the power supply system does not suffer any voltage drop due to the associated resistance of the cable between the power adapter and the tip.

5. A power supply system, comprising:

a power adapter to receive power from a power source and to output a first regulated output voltage (V_out), the power adapter including a regulation device;

a cable coupled to the power adapter, the cable having an associated resistance;

a tip to receive a second regulated output voltage from the power adapter through the cable through a first connector and provide the second regulated output voltage to the power adapter through a second connector, the second regulated output voltage being based upon the first regulated output voltage but subject to a voltage loss in the cable, the tip including circuitry to provide a fraction of the second regulated output voltage to a voltage regulator to set a programming voltage (V_prog) based on comparing the fraction of the second regulated output voltage to a reference voltage, the programming voltage being output through the first connector and the cable to control a magnitude of the first output voltage output by the power adapter, and

a comparator to detect an error in a relationship between a first regulated output voltage (V_out) and the programming voltage (V_prog).

6. The power supply system of claim 5, wherein the tip further includes a first lighting device to light when the error is detected.

7. The power supply system of claim 5, the tip further including a switch to open, to prevent the second regulated output voltage from reaching the electronic device, when the error is detected.

8. The power supply system of claim 5, wherein the tip includes a second lighting device to light when no error is detected.

9. The power supply system of claim 5, further including a switch to close, to allow the second regulated output voltage to reach the electronic device, when no error is detected.

10. The power supply system of claim 5, where the power supply system does not suffer any voltage drop due to the associated resistance of the cable between the power adapter and the tip.

11. A method of supplying power to an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a compensated output voltage at a tip, the compensated output voltage being the difference being a regulated output voltage provided from an adapter and voltage loss across a cable coupling the adapter to the tip;

setting, at a tip, a programming voltage (V_prog) based on comparison of a predetermined fraction of the compensated output voltage received at the tip and a reference voltage utilizing a regulator, the predetermined fraction defined by resistors within the tip;

feeding back the programming voltage (V_prog) to a regulator in the adapter to control a magnitude of the regulated output voltage provided by the adapter; and

outputting, via the tip, the compensated output voltage to the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, further including detecting an error in a relationship between the predetermined fraction of the compensated output voltage and the programming voltage.

13. The method of claim 12, further including lighting a lighting device, located within the tip, when the error is detected.

14. The method of claim 12, further including opening a switch located in the tip, to prevent Vout from reaching the electronic device, when the error is detected.

15. The method of claim 12, further including lighting a lighting device, located within the tip, when the error is not detected.