Internal powerline power supply method and system

• US 7,401,239 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Original Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Inventors: Chan, Tat Keung, Mu, Songly
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao; Chun
• Application Number:
  US11/219,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20060193110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form

Abstract

A power supply apparatus and related method. The power supply apparatus has an AC input. The apparatus has a converter for converting AC power into DC power. In a specific embodiment, the converter has an input and an output. In a specific embodiment, the input of the converter is coupled to the AC input. The power supply apparatus has a DC output for voltage ranging. The output of the converter is coupled to the DC output. The apparatus also has a fan operably configured to transfer thermal energy away from the converter and a data input/output port, the data input/output port being coupled to a data signal from a data source. The apparatus has a coupler coupled between the data input/output port and the AC input. A power line module is coupled to the coupler. The power line module is adapted to convert the data signal from a first format to a second format. The second format is capable of transmission to the AC input. An enclosure is provided for the coupler. The enclosure shields the data signal from noise, e.g., high frequency noise, low frequency noise.

Claims

1. A power supply apparatus, the power supply apparatus comprising:

an AC input for voltage ranging from about 100 volts to 240 volts and a frequency of 50 to about 60 Hertz;

a converter for converting AC power into DC power, the converter comprising an input and an output;

the input of the converter being coupled to the AC input;

a DC output for voltage ranging from about a first determined amount to about a second determined amount, the output of the converter being coupled to the DC output;

a fan operably configured to transfer thermal energy away from the converter;

a data input/output port, the data input/output port being coupled to a data signal from a data source;

a coupler coupled between the data input/output port and the AC input;

a power line module coupled to the coupler, the power line module being adapted to convert the data signal from a first format to a second format, the second format being capable of transmission to the AC input; and

an enclosure provided for the coupler, the enclosure being made of metal material to shield high frequency noise, the enclosure being adapted to shield the data signal.

2. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a metal material, the metal material substantially shielding any high frequency electromagnetic noise ranging from 500 kilo-Hertz to 1 Mega-Hertz to the coupler.

3. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a metal material to shield high frequency noise at a frequency ranging from 1 Mega Hertz to about 30 Mega Hertz, the high frequency noise being derived from the converter including a switching power supply.

4. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is provided entirely within a docking station.

5. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is provided within a personal computer device.

6. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power supply apparatus further comprising an enclosure, the enclosure housing the fan, converter, coupler and power line module.

7. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power line module is provided on a first board and the coupler is provided on a second board, the first board being separated by a spatial distance from the second board.

8. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fan comprises a plurality of blades being operable using a motor.

9. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the AC input is coupled to a power line network.

10. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data signal in the first format is an OFDM format.

11. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power line module comprises a power line chip.

12. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power line module comprises a power line chip coupled to an analog front end.

13. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power line module is coupled to a USB port, the USB port providing electrical power to the power line module.

14. The power supply apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data input/output port is a USB port.

16. The personal computing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a metal material, the metal material substantially shielding any high frequency electromagnetic noise ranging from 500 kilo-Hertz to 1 Mega Hertz to the coupler.

15. A personal computing apparatus comprising:

a personal computer housing, the personal computer housing coupled to an AC input interface and a data input/output interface;

a power supply apparatus within the personal computer housing, the power supply apparatus comprising;

an AC input coupled to the AC input interface, the AC input for voltage ranging from 100 volts to 240 volts;

a converter for converting AC power into DC power, the converter comprising an input and an output;

the input of the converter being coupled to the AC input;

a DC output for voltage ranging from about a first determined amount to a second determined amount, the output of the converter being coupled to the DC output;

a fan operably configured to transfer thermal energy away from the converter;

a data input/output interface, the data input/output interface being coupled to the data input/output interface, the data input/output interface being coupled to a data signal in a first format from a data source;

a coupler coupled between the data input/output port and the AC input;

a power line module coupled to the coupler, the power line module being adapted to convert the data signal from the first format to a second format, the second format being capable of transmission to the AC input interface; and

an enclosure provided for the coupler, the enclosure being made of metal material to shield high frequency noise, the enclosure being adapted to shield the data signal.

17. The personal computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the converter is a source for high frequency noise ranging from 1 Mega-Hertz to 30 Mega Hertz.

18. The personal computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the power supply apparatus further comprising a power supply enclosure, the power supply enclosure housing the fan, converter, coupler and power line module.

19. The personal computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the power line module is provided on a first board and the coupler is provided on a second board, the first board being separated by a spatial distance from the second board.

20. The personal computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the fan comprises a plurality of blades being operable using a motor.

21. The personal computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the AC input interface is coupled to a power line network.

22. The personal computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the data signal in the second format is an OFDM format.

23. The personal computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the power line module comprises a power line chip.

24. The personal computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the power line module comprises a power line chip coupled to an analog front end.

25. The personal computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the power line module is coupled to a USB port, the USB port providing electrical power to the power line module.

26. The personal computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the data input/output port is a USB port.

27. The personal computing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first determined amount is 12 volts and the second determined amount is 3.3 volts.

28. A power supply apparatus, the power supply apparatus comprising:

an AC input for voltage;

a converter for converting AC power into DC power, the converter comprising an input and an output;

the input of the converter being coupled to the AC input;

a DC output for voltage ranging from a first determined amount to a second determined amount, the output of the converter being coupled to the DC output;

a data input/output port, the data input/output port being coupled to a data signal from a data source;

a coupler coupled between the data input/output port and the AC input;

a housing member coupled to the coupler, the housing member having a first side and a second side, the second side being coupled to the coupler;

a power line module coupled to the coupler, the power line module being provided on the first side of the housing member, the power line module being adapted to convert the data signal from a first format to a second format, the second format being capable of transmission to the AC input, the power line module being separated by the coupler by the housing member; and

an enclosure provided for the power line module, the enclosure being made of metal material to shield high frequency noise, the enclosure being provided to shield the power line module from a high frequency noise.

29. The power supply apparatus of claim 28 wherein the power line module and the coupler are connected using a flexible cable of less than three inches.

30. The power supply apparatus of claim 28 wherein the power line module is coupled to the data source using a serial bus.

31. The power supply apparatus of claim 30 wherein the power line module derives electrical power from the serial bus.

32. The power supply apparatus of claim 31 wherein the serial bus is a USB format.

33. A method for powerline communications using a power supply module comprising:

providing a powerline signal in a first format from an input/output port;

converting the powerline signal in the first format to a second format using a power line module coupled to a first side of a housing member;

transferring the powerline signal in the second format through a portion of the housing member using a flexible cable; and

coupling the powerline signal in the second format to an AC powerline using a coupling device coupled to a second side of the housing member, the coupling device positioned in an enclosure, the enclosure being made of metal material to shield high frequency noise.

34. A power supply apparatus, the power supply apparatus comprising:

an AC input for voltage ranging from 100 volts to 240 volts and a frequency of about 50 to about 60 Hertz;

a converter for converting AC power into DC power, the converter comprising an input and an output;

the input of the converter being coupled to the AC input;

a DC output for voltage ranging from about a first determined amount to about a second determined amount, the output of the converter being coupled to the DC output;

a fan operably configured to transfer thermal energy away from the converter;

a data input/output port, the data input/output port being coupled to a data signal from a data source;

a coupler coupled between the data input/output port and the AC input;

a noise isolator coupled to the coupler and the data input/output port, the noise isolator being adopted to filter at least noise from the converter;

a shielded cable;

a power line module coupled to the coupler through the shield cable, the power line module being adapted to convert the data signal from a first format to a second format, the second format being capable of transmission to the AC input; and

an enclosure provided for the coupler and the noise isolate isolator, the enclosure being made of metal material to shield high frequency noise, the enclosure being adapted to shield the data signal.

35. The power supply apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a fuse coupled to the coupler.