Automatic sensing power systems and methods

• US 7,960,859 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Green Plug, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Green Plug, Inc.
• Inventors: Menas, Gregory W., Miller, Brent A., Spano, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parries, Dru M
• Application Number:
  US11/777,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20070252439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 307/11
• US Class Current: 307/11
• 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:

conveying alternating current (AC) power through at least one connector of a power system, the power system comprising at least one 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 at least one 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;

configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to a minimal DC power level;

converting the DC power to the minimal DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the minimal DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle for at least a selected time period;

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

transmitting the communication from the communication system to the processor;

processing the communication at the processor and, in response thereto, determining the selected DC power level based on the configuration data and, using the processor, 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.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring, at the processor, the at least one DC to DC regulator to generate the DC power at the minimal DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle at least until the communication system receives the communication.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the power system comprises at least one AC receptacle; and

the method further comprises conveying the AC power at an AC power level through the at least one AC receptacle.

4. The method of claim 1 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 at the processor 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

generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the configuration data comprises at least one particular device identification;

the power system 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 at the processor and, in response thereto, searching the memory to determine the selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the power system comprises at least one member of another group consisting of a power strip, a rack mount system, a cabinet mount system, and a detachable device.

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

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the electrical device comprises at least one member of another 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.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected DC power level comprises a selected voltage level.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the AC power at the at least one connector from an electrical supply; and

communicating at least one other communication through at least one communication method selected from another group consisting of;

transmitting the at least one other communication from the power system through the electrical supply; and

receiving the at least one other communication at the power system through the electrical supply.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the power system comprises a receiving connector; and

the method further comprises;

receiving the AC power at a detachable device through another connector configured to removably connect to at least one member of a second group consisting of the receiving connector and a power source, the detachable device comprising at least one other DC receptacle, another AC to DC regulator, at least one other DC to DC regulator, and another processor;

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

determining a second selected DC power level at the other processor and configuring the at least one other DC to DC regulator to convert the other DC power to the second selected DC power level; and

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

12. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the power system comprises a plurality of DC receptacles and a plurality of DC to DC regulators, each corresponding to one of the DC receptacles; and

the method further comprises;

determining a particular selected DC power level for each DC to DC regulator at the processor and configuring each DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the particular selected DC power level; and

converting the DC power to the particular selected DC power level at each DC to DC regulator and generating the particular selected DC power level for the corresponding receptacle, the particular selected DC power levels not initially preset.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the communication in at least one format selected from another 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.

14. The method of claim 1 comprising receiving the communication through at least one member of another group consisting of a communication interface of the power system and the at least one DC receptacle.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the power system comprises at least one modulator; and

the method further comprises;

receiving the communication at the at least one DC receptacle;

receiving the communication from the at least one DC receptacle at the at least one modulator; and

transmitting the communication from the at least one modulator to the processor.

16. A method for configuring power comprising:

conveying 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 power converter, and a processor, the at least one connector selected from a group consisting of a line-cord and a plug;

configuring the at least one power converter to convert the AC power to DC power at a minimal DC power level;

converting the AC power to the DC power at the minimal DC power level at the at least one power converter and generating the DC power at the minimal DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle for at least a selected time period;

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

transmitting the communication from the communication system to the processor;

processing the communication at the processor and, in response thereto, determining the selected DC power level based on the configuration data and, using the processor, configuring the at least one 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 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.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising configuring the at least one power converter to generate the DC power at the minimal DC power level at the processor for the at least one DC receptacle at least until the communication system receives the communication.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the power system comprises at least one AC receptacle; and

the method further comprises conveying the AC power from the at least one AC receptacle at an AC power level.

19. The system of claim 16 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 at the processor and, in response thereto, configuring the at least one power converter to dynamically convert the AC power to the DC power at the selected DC power level.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the configuration data comprises at least one particular device identification;

the power system 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 at the processor and, in response thereto, searching the memory to determine the selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the power system comprises at least one member of another group consisting of a power strip, a rack mount system, a cabinet mount system, and a detachable device.

22. The method of claim 16 further comprises receiving, at an electrical device, the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the electrical device comprises at least one member of another 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.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the selected DC power level comprises a selected voltage level.

25. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving the AC power at the at least one connector from an electrical supply; and

communicating at least one other communication through at least one communication method selected from a second group consisting of;

transmitting the at least one other communication from the power system through the electrical supply; and

receiving at the power system the at least one other communication through the electrical supply.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the power system comprises a receiving connector; and

the method further comprises;

receiving the AC power at a detachable device through another connector configured to removably connect to at least one member of a second group consisting of the receiving connector and a power source, the detachable device comprising at least one other DC receptacle, at least one other power converter, and another processor;

determining a second selected DC power level at the other processor and configuring the at least one other power converter to convert the AC power to other DC power at the second selected DC power level; and

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

27. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the at least one power converter comprises at least one AC to DC regulator and at least one DC to DC regulator; and

the method further comprises;

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

configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level at the processor; 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.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the power system comprises at least one other DC receptacle; and

the method further comprises;

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

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

converting the AC power to the DC power at the second selected DC power level at the at least one power converter 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.

29. The method of claim 16 further comprising receiving the communication in at least one format selected from another 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.

30. The method of claim 16 further comprising receiving the communication through at least one member of another group consisting of a communication interface of the power system and the at least one DC receptacle.

31. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the power system comprises at least one modulator; and

the method further comprises;

receiving the communication at the at least one DC receptacle;

receiving the communication at the at least one modulator from the at least one DC receptacle; and

transmitting the communication from the at least one modulator to the processor.

32. A method for configuring power comprising:

conveying 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;

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

configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to a minimal DC power level;

converting the DC power to the minimal DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the minimal DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle for at least a minimal time period;

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

transmitting the communication from the communication system to the processor;

processing the communication at the processor and, in response thereto, determining the selected DC power level based on the configuration data and, using the processor, 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.

33. The method of claim 32 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 at the processor and, in response thereto, configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein:

the configuration data comprises at least one particular device identification;

the power system 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 at the processor and, in response thereto, searching the memory to determine the selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

35. The method of claim 32 further comprises receiving, at an electrical device, the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein:

the power system comprises a plurality of DC receptacles; and

the method further comprises;

determining a particular selected DC power level for each of the plurality of DC receptacles at the processor and configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the particular selected DC power levels; and

converting the DC power to the particular selected DC power levels at the at least one DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the particular selected DC power levels for the corresponding DC receptacles, the particular selected DC power levels not initially preset.

37. A method for configuring power comprising:

conveying 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;

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

configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to a minimal DC power level;

converting the DC power to the minimal DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the minimal DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle for at least a minimal time period;

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

transmitting the communication from the communication system to the processor;

determining at least one selected DC power level based on the configuration data at the processor and, using the processor, 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.

38. A method for configuring power comprising:

conveying alternating current (AC) 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, each DC to DC regulator corresponding to one of the DC receptacles, and a processor, the at least one connector selected from a group consisting a line-cord and a plug;

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

configuring each DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to a minimal DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle;

converting the DC power to a minimal DC power level at each DC to DC regulator for the corresponding DC receptacle and generating the DC power at the minimal DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle for a corresponding selected time period;

receiving a plurality of externally transmitted communications at the communication system, each communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

transmitting the communications from the communication system to the processor;

processing the communications at the processor and, in response thereto, determining the selected DC power levels for each of the plurality of DC receptacles based on the configuration data of a corresponding communication, and, using the processor, configuring each DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level for the corresponding receptacle; and

converting the DC power to the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle 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, the selected DC power levels independent of each other and not initially present.

39. A method for configuring power comprising:

conveying alternating current (AC) 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, each DC to DC regulator corresponding to one of the DC receptacles, and a processor;

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

configuring each DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to a minimal DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle for at least a corresponding selected time period;

converting the DC power to a minimal DC power level at each DC to DC regulator for the corresponding DC receptacle and generating the DC power at the minimal DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle for a corresponding selected time period;

receiving at least one of a plurality of externally transmitted communications at each of the plurality of DC receptacles, each communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

receiving the communications at the communication system from the plurality of DC receptacles;

transmitting the communications from the communication system to the processor;

processing the communications at the processor and, in response thereto, determining each selected DC power level based on the configuration data of a corresponding communication, and, using the processor, 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 for the corresponding DC receptacle at each of the DC to DC regulators and generating the DC power at the selected DC power levels for the corresponding DC receptacles, the selected DC power levels independent of each other and not initially preset.

40. A method for configuring power comprising:

conveying alternating current (AC) 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;

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

configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to a minimal DC power level;

converting the DC power to the minimal DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the minimal DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle for at least a selected time period;

receiving at least one externally transmitted communication at the at least one DC receptacle, the communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

receiving the communication at the communication system from the at least one DC receptacle;

transmitting the communication from the communication system to the processor;

processing the communication at the processor and, in response thereto, determining the selected DC power level based on the configuration data and, using the processor, 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.