Automatic sensing power systems and methods
First Claim
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1. A method for configuring alternating current (AC) power comprising:
- receiving the AC power at an AC power level at a line-cord power system comprising at least one AC receptacle, at least one AC to direct current (DC) regulator, at least one modulator, at least one low current driver, at least one DC to DC regulator, at least one high current switch, a plurality of DC receptacles, and a processor;
conveying the AC power to the at least one AC receptacle;
converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator;
generating a first driver signal at the at least one low current driver, the first driver signal indicating that a first communication will be generated;
transmitting from the at least one modulator the first communication requesting configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;
receiving a second communication with the configuration data at the modulator;
processing the second communication at the processor and, in response thereto, determining the selected DC power level, dynamically configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and generating an enable signal to enable the at least one high current switch to provide the DC power at the selected DC power level; and
dynamically converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator, providing the DC power at the selected DC power level to at least one DC receptacle upon receipt of the enable signal at the at least one high current switch, and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the DC receptacle.
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Abstract
An automatic sensing power system automatically determines a power requirement for an electrical device, converts power to the required level, and outputs the power to the electrical device when the electrical device is connected to the automatic sensing power system
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method for configuring alternating current (AC) power comprising:
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receiving the AC power at an AC power level at a line-cord power system comprising at least one AC receptacle, at least one AC to direct current (DC) regulator, at least one modulator, at least one low current driver, at least one DC to DC regulator, at least one high current switch, a plurality of DC receptacles, and a processor; conveying the AC power to the at least one AC receptacle; converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator; generating a first driver signal at the at least one low current driver, the first driver signal indicating that a first communication will be generated; transmitting from the at least one modulator the first communication requesting configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level; receiving a second communication with the configuration data at the modulator; processing the second communication at the processor and, in response thereto, determining the selected DC power level, dynamically configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and generating an enable signal to enable the at least one high current switch to provide the DC power at the selected DC power level; and dynamically converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator, providing the DC power at the selected DC power level to at least one DC receptacle upon receipt of the enable signal at the at least one high current switch, and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the DC receptacle.
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2. A method for configuring power comprising:
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receiving alternating current (AC) power at an AC power level at a line-cord power system comprising at least one AC to direct current (DC) regulator, at least one DC to DC regulator, and a plurality of DC receptacles; converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator; determining a selected DC power level for each of the plurality of DC receptacles and dynamically configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to generate the DC power at each selected DC power level; and dynamically converting the DC power to selected DC power levels at the at least one DC to DC regulator for corresponding DC receptacles and generating the DC power at each selected DC power level for each corresponding DC receptacle, each selected DC power level being independent of other selected DC power levels, the selected DC power levels not being initially preset conversions.
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3. A method for configuring alternating current (AC) power comprising:
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receiving the AC power at an AC power level at a line-cord power device comprising at least one AC receptacle, at least one AC to direct current (DC) regulator, at least one DC to DC regulator, and a plurality of DC receptacles; converting the AC power to DC power at a regulator DC power level at the at least one AC to DC regulator; configuring each of the plurality of DC receptacles to output DC power at a power level independent of other DC receptacles; determining a selected DC power level for generation to at least one DC receptacle and generating a signal to configure generating the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle; and receiving the signal at the at least one DC to DC regulator and, in response, dynamically converting the DC power from the regulator DC power level to the selected DC power level and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not selected from an initially preset conversion level.
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4. A method for configuring power comprising:
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receiving alternating current (AC) power through at least one connector of a power system, the power system comprising a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles, a communication system, at least one AC to DC regulator, a plurality of DC to DC regulators, and a processor, the connector selected from a group consisting of a line-cord and a plug, and each DC to DC regulator corresponding to one of the DC receptacles; converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator; receiving a pluality of communications at the communication system, each communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level; processing each communication at the processor and, in response thereto, determining a selected DC power level for each corresponding DC receptacle based on the configuration data and configuring each DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle; and converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at each DC to DC regulator for the corresponding DC receptacle and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle, each selected DC power level for each corresponding DC receptacle independent of other selected DC power levels for other corresponding DC receptacles, each selected DC power level not initially preset; and conveying the DC power at the selected DC power levels from the corresponding DC receptacles.
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5. A method for configuring power comprising:
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receiving alternating current (AC) power at a line-cord power system comprising at least one AC receptacle, a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles, a communication system, at least one AC to DC regulator, a plurality of DC to DC regulators, and a processor, each DC to DC regulator corresponding to one of the DC receptacles; conveying the AC power to the at least one AC receptacle; converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator; receiving a plurality of communications at the communication system through at least one member of a group consisting of a communication interface and at least one DC receptacle, each communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level; processing each communication at the processor and, in response thereto, determining a selected DC power level for each corresponding DC receptacle based on the configuration data and configuring each DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle; converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at each DC to DC regulator for the corresponding DC receptacle and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle, each selected DC power level for each corresponding DC receptacle independent of other selected DC power levels for other corresponding DC receptacles, each selected DC power level not initially preset; and conveying the DC power at the selected DC power levels from the corresponding DC receptacles.
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6. A method for configuring alternating current (AC) power comprising:
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receiving the AC power at a line-cord power system, the line-cord power system comprising at least one AC to direct current (DC) regulator, a first DC receptacle, a second DC receptacle, at least one modulator, a first DC to DC regulator, a second DC to DC regulator and a processor; converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator; receiving a first signal at the first DC receptacle and receiving a second signal at the second DC receptacle, the first DC receptacle and the second DC receptacle each configured to convey the DC power; receiving, at the at least one modulator, the first signal from the first DC receptacle, receiving the second signal from the second DC receptacle, and transmitting the first and second signals for processing; processing the first signal at the processor to determine a first selected DC power level and configuring the first DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the first selected DC power level; processing the second signal at the processor to determine a second selected DC power level and configuring the second DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the second selected DC power level; converting the DC power to the first selected DC power level at the first DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the first selected DC power level for the first DC receptacle; and converting the DC power to the second selected DC power level at the second DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the second selected DC power level for the second DC receptacle; wherein the first selected DC power level for the first DC receptacle is independent of the second selected DC power level for the second DC receptacle.
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7. A method for configuring power comprising:
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conveying alternating current (AC) power through at least one connector of a power system, the power system comprising a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles, at least one AC to DC regulator, a plurality of DC to DC regulators, and a processor, each DC receptacle configured to receive a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level, and each DC to DC regulator corresponding to one of the DC receptacles; converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator; receiving the communications from the DC receptacles at the processor, processing the communications at the processor and, in response thereto, determining a selected DC power level for each corresponding DC receptacle based on the configuration data and configuring each DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle; converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at each DC to DC regulator for the corresponding DC receptacle and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle, each selected DC power level for each corresponding DC receptacle independent of other selected DC power levels for other corresponding DC receptacles, each selected DC power level not initially preset; and conveying the DC power at the selected DC power levels from the corresponding DC receptacles.
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8. A method for configuring power comprising:
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receiving alternating current (AC) power through at least one connector of a power system, the power system comprising a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles, at least one AC to DC regulator, at least one DC to DC regulator, and a processor, the connector selected from a group consisting of a line-cord and a plug, wherein at least one DC receptacle is configured to receive a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level; converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator; receiving the communication at the at least one DC receptacle; processing the communication at the processor and, in response thereto, determining a selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle based on the configuration data and configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle; converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at the least one DC to DC regulator for the at least one DC receptacle and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not initially preset; and conveying the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle.
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9. A method for configuring alternating current (AC) power comprising:
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receiving the AC power at an AC power level at a line-cord power system comprising at least one AC receptacle, a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles, at least one AC to DC regulator, a plurality of DC to DC regulators, each DC to DC regulator corresponding to one of the plurality of DC receptacles, and a processor; conveying the AC power to the at least one AC receptacle; converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator; determining at the processor a selected DC power level for each of the plurality of DC receptacles and configuring each of the plurality of DC to DC regulators to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle; and converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at each of the plurality of DC to DC regulators and generating the DC power at the selected DC power levels for the corresponding DC receptacles, each selected DC power level being independent of other selected DC power levels, and each selected DC power level not being selected from an initially preset conversion level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for configuring power comprising:
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receiving alternating current (AC) power through at least one connector of a power system, the power system comprising a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles, a communication system, at least one AC to DC regulator, at least one DC to DC regulator, and a processor, the connector selected from a group consisting of a line-cord and a plug; converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator; receiving a communication at the communication system, the communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level; processing the communication at the processor, determining the selected DC power level based on the configuration data, and configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level; and converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not selected from an initially preset conversion. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for configuring power comprising:
receiving alternating current (AC) power through at least one connector of a power system, the power system comprising at least one direct current (DC) receptacle, a communication system, at least one AC to DC regulator, at least one DC to DC regulator, and a processor, the connector selected from a group consisting of a line-cord and a plug; converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator; receiving a communication at the communication system, the communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level; processing the communication at the processor, and, in response thereto, determining the selected DC power level and configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level; and converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not selected from an initially preset conversion.
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46. A method for configuring alternating current (AC) power comprising:
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receiving the AC power at a line-cord power system comprising at least one AC receptacle, at least one AC to direct current (DC) regulator, a communication system, at least one DC to DC regulator, and a plurality of DC receptacles; conveying the AC power to the at least one AC receptacle; converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator; receiving a communication at the communication system through at least one member of a group consisting of a communication interface and at least one DC receptacle, the communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level; processing the communication and, in response thereto, determining the selected DC power level and configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level; and converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not initially preset. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method for configuring alternating current (AC) power comprising:
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receiving the AC power at a line-cord power system, the line-cord power system comprising at least one AC to direct current (DC) regulator, a first DC receptacle, a second DC receptacle, at least one modulator, a first DC to DC regulator, a second DC to DC regulator and a processor; converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator; receiving a first signal at the first DC receptacle and receiving a second signal at the second DC receptacle, the first DC receptacle and the second DC receptacle each configured to convey the DC power; configuring the at least one modulator to receive the first signal from the first DC receptacle, to receive the second signal from the second DC receptacle, and to transmit the first and second signals for processing; processing the first signal at the processor to determine a first selected DC power level and configuring the first DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the first selected DC power level; processing the second signal at the processor to determine a second selected DC power level and configuring the second DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the second selected DC power level; converting the DC power to the first selected DC power level at the first DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the first selected DC power level for the first DC receptacle; and converting the DC power to the second selected DC power level at the second DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the second selected DC power level for the second DC receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58)
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Specification