Automatic sensing power systems and methods

• US 7,646,111 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2007
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: mPATHX, LLC
• Inventors: Spano, Steve, Menas, Gregory W., Miller, Brent A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US11/746,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20070205666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 307/38
• US Class Current: 307/38
• 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: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/22 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

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.

Claims

1. A method for configuring power comprising:

configuring a direct current (DC) modular receptacle to removably connect with a modular junction unit, the DC modular receptacle comprising at least one DC receptacle, a communication system, an alternating current (AC) to DC regulator, and at least one DC to DC regulator;

conveying AC power from the modular junction unit to the DC modular receptacle;

converting the AC power to DC power at the AC to DC regulator;

at the communication system, receiving a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

processing the communication to determine the selected DC power level and, in response thereto, 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.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

configuring an AC removable modular receptacle to removably connect with the modular junction unit;

conveying the AC power from the modular junction unit to the AC removable modular receptacle; and

conveying the AC power from the AC removable modular receptacle.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

configuring at least one other modular receptacle selected from a group consisting of a lighting module, a battery recharge module, and a dimmer module to removably connect with the modular junction unit; and

conveying the AC power from the modular junction unit to the at least one other modular receptacle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the configuration data comprises an identification of the selected DC power level; and

processing the communication comprises processing the communication with the selected DC power level identification and, in response thereto, configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the configuration data comprises at least one particular device identification;

the DC modular receptacle comprises memory comprising a plurality of device identifications and corresponding DC power levels;

processing the communication comprises processing the communication with the particular device identification; and

the method further comprises searching the memory to determine the selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising conveying the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle to an electrical device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising conveying the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle to an electrical device selected from at least one member of a group consisting of a computer, a printer, a fax machine, a pocket PC, a personal digital assistant, a phone, a camera, a recording device, an audio device, a video device, and a drill.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected DC power level comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a selected voltage level and a selected current level.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the modular junction unit is configured to receive the AC power from an electrical supply and the method further comprises transmitting or receiving at least one other communication through the electrical supply.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating via at least one format selected from a group consisting of a universal serial bus format, a Bluetooth format, an Ethernet format, a Firewire format, a cable format, a phone line format, a digital subscriber line service format, and an internet protocol format.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the DC modular receptacle comprises at least one other DC receptacle and at least one other DC to DC regulator, and the method further comprises:

at the communication system, receiving a second communication comprising second configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one second selected DC power level;

processing the second communication and, in response thereto, determining the second selected DC power level and configuring the at least one other DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the second selected DC power level; and

at the at least one other DC to DC regulator, converting the DC power to the second selected DC power level and generating the DC power at the second selected DC power level for the at least one other DC receptacle.

12. A method for configuring power comprising:

configuring a removable modular receptacle to removably connect with a modular junction box, the removable modular receptacle comprising at least one direct current (DC) receptacle, an alternating current (AC) to DC regulator, and at least one DC to DC regulator;

conveying AC power from the modular junction box to the removable modular receptacle;

converting the AC power to DC power at the AC to DC regulator;

determining a selected DC power level and, in response thereto, 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.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

configuring an AC removable modular receptacle to connect with the modular junction box;

conveying the AC power from the modular junction box to the AC removable modular receptacle; and

conveying the AC power from the AC removable modular receptacle.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

configuring at least one other removable modular receptacle selected from a group consisting of a lighting module, a battery recharge module, and a dimmer module to removably connect with the modular junction box; and

conveying the AC power from the modular junction box to the at least one other removable modular receptacle.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising conveying the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle to an electrical device.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising conveying the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle to an electrical device selected from at least one member of a group consisting of a computer, a printer, a fax machine, a pocket PC, a personal digital assistant, a phone, a camera, a recording device, an audio device, a video device, and a drill.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the selected DC power level comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a selected voltage level and a selected current level.

18. A method for configuring power comprising:

configuring a removable modular receptacle to removably connect with a modular source, the removable modular receptacle comprising a communication system, at least one direct current (DC) receptacle, and a power converter;

conveying alternating current (AC) power from the modular source to the removable modular receptacle;

at the communication system, receiving a 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 power converter to convert the AC power to DC power at the selected DC power level; and

converting the AC power to the DC power at the selected DC power level at the power converter and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

configuring an AC removable modular receptacle to removably connect with the modular source;

conveying the AC power from the modular source to the AC removable modular receptacle; and

conveying the AC power from the AC removable modular receptacle.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

configuring at least one other removable modular receptacle selected from a group consisting of a lighting module, a battery recharge module, and a dimmer module to removably connect with the modular source; and

conveying the AC power from the modular source to the at least one other removable modular receptacle.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein:

the configuration data comprises an identification of the selected DC power level, and

the method further comprises processing the communication with the selected DC power level identification and, in response thereto, configuring the power converter to convert the AC power to the DC power at the selected DC power level.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein:

the configuration data comprises at least one particular device identification;

the removable modular receptacle comprises memory comprising a plurality of device identifications and corresponding DC power levels; and

the method further comprises processing the communication with the particular device identification and, in response thereto, searching the memory to determine the selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising conveying the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle to an electrical device.

24. The method of claim 18 further comprising conveying the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle to an electrical device selected from at least one member of a group consisting of a computer, a printer, a fax machine, a pocket PC, a personal digital assistant, a phone, a camera, a recording device, an audio device, a video device, and a drill.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein the selected DC power level comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a selected voltage level and a selected current level.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein the modular source is configured to receive the AC power from an electrical supply and the method further comprises transmitting or receiving at least one other communication through the electrical supply.

27. The method of claim 18 further comprising communicating via at least one format selected from a group consisting of a universal serial bus format, a Bluetooth format, an Ethernet format, a Firewire format, a cable format, a phone line format, a digital subscriber line service format, and an internet protocol format.

28. The method of claim 18 wherein the power converter comprises an AC to DC regulator and at least one DC to DC regulator, and the method further comprises:

configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level and enabling generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle;

at the AC to DC regulator, converting the AC power to the DC power; and

at the at least one DC to DC regulator, converting the DC power to the selected DC power level and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle.

29. The method of claim 18 wherein the removable modular receptacle comprises at least one other DC receptacle, and the method further comprises:

at the communication system, receiving another communication comprising other configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one second selected DC power level;

processing the other communication and, in response thereto, determining the second selected DC power level and configuring the power converter to convert the AC power to the DC power at the second selected DC power level; and

at the power converter, converting the AC power to the DC power at the second selected DC power level and generating the DC power at the second selected DC power level for the at least one other DC receptacle, the second selected DC power level not initially preset.

30. A method for configuring power comprising:

configuring a removable modular receptacle to removably connect with a modular junction unit, the removable modular receptacle comprising at least one direct current (DC) receptacle and a power converter;

conveying alternating current (AC) power from the modular junction unit to the removable modular receptacle;

determining a selected DC power level and configuring the power converter to convert the AC power to DC power at the selected DC power level; and

at the power converter, dynamically converting the AC power to the DC power at 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 initially preset.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

configuring an AC removable modular receptacle to removably connect with the modular junction unit;

conveying the AC power from the modular junction unit to the AC removable modular receptacle; and

conveying the AC power from the AC removable modular receptacle.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

configuring at least one other removable modular receptacle selected from a group consisting of a lighting module, a battery recharge module, and a dimmer module to connect with the modular junction unit; and

conveying the AC power from the modular junction unit to the at least one other removable modular receptacle.

33. The method of claim 30 further comprising conveying the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle to an electrical device.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein the selected DC power level comprises at least one member of another group consisting of a selected voltage level and a selected current level.

35. A method for configuring power for a modular source comprising:

configuring a removable modular receptacle to removably connect with the modular source, the removable modular receptacle comprising a connector, at least one direct current (DC) receptacle, an alternating current (AC) to DC regulator, and at least one DC to DC regulator;

receiving AC power from the modular source at the connector;

converting the AC power to DC power at the AC to DC regulator;

receiving a communication at a communication system, 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 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 initially preset.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

configuring an AC removable modular receptacle to removably connect with the modular source;

conveying the AC power from the modular source to the AC removable modular receptacle; and

conveying the AC power from the AC removable modular receptacle.

37. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

configuring at least one other removable modular receptacle selected from a group consisting of a lighting module, a battery recharge module, and a dimmer module to connect with the modular source; and

conveying the AC power from the modular source to the at least one other removable modular receptacle.

38. The method of claim 35 further comprising conveying the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle to an electrical device.

39. A method for configuring power for a modular junction unit comprising:

configuring a removable modular receptacle to removably connect with the modular junction unit, the removable modular receptacle comprising a connector, at least one direct current (DC) receptacle, and a power converter;

receiving alternating current (AC) power from the modular junction unit at the connector;

receiving a communication at a communication system, the communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

processing the communication to determine the selected DC power level and, in response thereto, configuring the power converter to convert the AC power to DC power at the selected DC power level; and

converting the AC power to the DC power at the selected DC power level at the power converter and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

configuring an AC removable modular receptacle to removably connect with the modular junction unit;

conveying the AC power from the modular junction unit to the AC removable modular receptacle; and

conveying the AC power from the AC removable modular receptacle.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

configuring at least one other removable modular receptacle selected from a group consisting of a lighting module, a battery recharge module, and a dimmer module to connect with the modular junction unit; and

conveying the AC power from the modular junction unit to the at least one other removable modular receptacle.

42. The method of claim 39 further comprising conveying the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle to an electrical device.

43. A method for configuring power comprising:

configuring a removable modular receptacle to removably connect with a modular junction unit, the removable modular receptacle comprising a communication system, a processor, at least one direct current (DC) receptacle, an alternating current (AC) to DC regulator, and at least one DC to DC regulator;

conveying AC power from the modular junction unit to the removable modular receptacle;

at the communication system, receiving 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 AC to DC regulator;

processing the communication with the processor to determine the selected DC power level and, in response thereto, dynamically configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to 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 and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not being initially preset.

44. A method for configuring power comprising:

configuring a removable modular receptacle to removably connect with a modular junction unit, the removable modular receptacle comprising at least one direct current (DC) receptacle and a power converter;

conveying alternating current (AC) power from the modular junction unit to the removable modular receptacle;

at a communication system, receiving a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

processing the communication at the removable modular receptacle to determine the selected DC power level and, in response thereto, configuring the power converter to convert the AC power to DC power at the selected DC power level; and

converting the AC power to the DC power at the selected DC power level at the power converter and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle.

45. A method for configuring power comprising:

configuring a direct current (DC) modular receptacle to removably connect with a modular junction unit, the DC modular receptacle comprising a plurality of DC receptacles, a communication system, an alternating current (AC) to DC regulator, and a plurality of DC to DC regulators, each DC to DC regulator corresponding to one of the DC receptacles;

conveying AC power from the modular junction unit to the DC modular receptacle;

converting the AC power to DC power at the AC to DC regulator;

receiving a plurality 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;

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.

46. A method for configuring power for a modular source comprising:

configuring a removable modular receptacle to removably connect with the modular source, the removable modular receptacle comprising a connector, a plurality of DC receptacles, an alternating current (AC) to DC regulator, a plurality of DC to DC regulators, each DC to DC regulator corresponding to one of the DC receptacles;

receiving AC power from the modular source at the connector;

converting the AC power to DC power at the AC to DC regulator;

receiving a plurality of communications at a 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;

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 level from the at least one DC receptacle.

47. A method for configuring power comprising:

configuring a direct current (DC) modular receptacle to removably connect with a modular junction unit, the DC modular receptacle comprising a plurality of DC receptacles, an alternating current (AC) to DC regulator, and a plurality of DC to DC regulators, 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;

conveying AC power from the modular junction unit to the DC modular receptacle;

converting the AC power to DC power at the 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.

48. A method for configuring power comprising:

configuring a direct current (DC) modular receptacle to removably connect with a modular junction unit, the DC modular receptacle comprising a plurality of DC receptacles, an alternating current (AC) to DC regulator, and a plurality of DC to DC regulators, 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;

conveying AC power from the modular junction unit to the DC modular receptacle;

converting the AC power to DC power at the 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.