Universal DC power
First Claim
1. A power converter capable of providing a range of DC power, comprising:
- a supply circuit for receiving a request for DC power from at least one external device and for providing the requested DC power to the at least one external device, wherein the external device comprises;
a device controller circuit for communicating the requested DC powers using a communications protocol selected from a plurality of communications protocols including a simple protocol and a complex protocol, wherein the simple protocol is identified when a capacitive load of the external device is greater than a threshold capacitive value and the complex protocol is identified when the capacitive load is less than the threshold capacitive value; and
first and second conductors for connecting the at least one external device to the power converter, wherein the first conductor provides a path for the at least one external device to communicate the requested DC output power to the power converter and for the power converter to supply the requested DC output voltage to the at least one external device, and wherein the second conductor provides a common reference for conducting return current to the power converter.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power converter capable of providing a range of DC voltages to an external device and a method of providing a range of DC power are provided. The power converter comprises a supply circuit for receiving a request for DC power and for providing the requested DC power. The supply circuit comprises a detection circuit for sensing a connection to an external device, a source controller circuit for determining a DC output power required by the external device, and a converter circuit for generating the required DC output power. The external device comprises a device controller circuit for communicating the request for DC power. A first conductor provides a path for the device to communicate the required DC power to the power converter and for the power converter to supply the required DC power. A second conductor provides a common reference for conducting return current to the power converter.
53 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A power converter capable of providing a range of DC power, comprising:
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a supply circuit for receiving a request for DC power from at least one external device and for providing the requested DC power to the at least one external device, wherein the external device comprises; a device controller circuit for communicating the requested DC powers using a communications protocol selected from a plurality of communications protocols including a simple protocol and a complex protocol, wherein the simple protocol is identified when a capacitive load of the external device is greater than a threshold capacitive value and the complex protocol is identified when the capacitive load is less than the threshold capacitive value; and first and second conductors for connecting the at least one external device to the power converter, wherein the first conductor provides a path for the at least one external device to communicate the requested DC output power to the power converter and for the power converter to supply the requested DC output voltage to the at least one external device, and wherein the second conductor provides a common reference for conducting return current to the power converter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41)
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11. A method of providing DC power to an external device connected to a power source by a first conductor and a second conductor, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for DC output power from the external device over the first conductor; transmitting the requested DC output power to the external device over the first conductor, wherein the second conductor provides a common reference for conducting return current to the power source; and supplying a constant current to the external device such that a voltage level on the first conductor ramps in a linear fashion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of providing DC power to an external device connected to a power source by a first conductor and a second conductor, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for DC output power from the external device over the first conductor; and transmitting the requested DC output power to the external device over the first conductor, wherein the second conductor provides a common reference for conducting return current to the power source; and measuring a capacitive load on the first conductor to identify a communications protocol selected from a plurality of communications protocols including a simple protocol and a complex protocol, prior to transmitting the requested DC output power wherein, if the external device is determined to be using the complex protocol, the method further comprises; receiving a communications packet formed by the external device prior to transmitting the DC output power, the packet indicating select electrical parameters including the requested DC output power. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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receiving a request for DC power from at least one external device including a rechargeable battery, the external device connected to a DC power source by a conductor; identifying a device voltage level and a device current level for the external device; configuring a converter circuit as a current source; generating a current corresponding to the device capacity level; applying the generated current for a predetermined time to the conductor; disabling the converter circuit configured as a current source; and charging the battery until a voltage level on the conductor reaches the device voltage level or until the battery is disconnected. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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24. A system for providing a range of DC power to an external device connected to a power source by a first conductive means and a second conductive means, comprising:
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means for communicating a request for DC power from the external device over the first conductive means, wherein the means for communicating a request for DC power comprises a communications protocol selected from a plurality of communications protocols including a simple protocol and a complex protocol, and wherein the simple protocol is identified when the capacitive load is greater than a threshold capacitive value and the complex protocol is identified when the capacitive load is less than the threshold capacitive value; and means for providing the requested DC power to the external device over the first conductive means, wherein the second conductive means provides a common reference for conducting return current from the external device to the power source. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification