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