Detachable tip for communicating with adapter and electronic device

• US 7,999,412 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2010
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lanni, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/840,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20100283330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 307/75, 307/130, 713/300, 713/320, 713/340
• US Class Current: 307/75
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/00 Automatic systems in which deviations of an electric quantity from one or more predetermined values are detected at the output of the system and fed back to a device within the system to restore the detected quantity to its predetermined value or values, i.e. retroactive systems
• 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 1/00 Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection

Abstract

A detachable tip is used in conjunction with a power adapter to provide DC power to an electronic device. The tip includes an input connector which detachably mates with a connector which is electrically coupled to the power adapter. An output connector of the tip detachably mates with the electronic device. Conductors within the tip transfer the DC power from the input connector to the output connector to provide the DC power to the electronic device. Circuitry within the tip transmits to the electronic device, via the output connector, a power output indication signal representative of an amount of power available to be supplied to the electronic device by the adapter.

Claims

1. A tip for transferring DC power generated by an adapter to an electronic device, the tip comprising:

an input connector which is detachably mateable to a connector which is electrically coupled to the DC power generated by the adapter;

an output connector which is detachably mateable to the electronic device;

a plurality of conductors to transfer the DC power from the input connector to the output connector to provide the DC power to the electronic device; and

power indication circuitry to transmit to the electronic device via the output connector a power output indication signal representative of an amount of power available to be supplied to the electronic device by the adapter.

2. The tip of claim 1, wherein the power output indication signal is representative of the amount of power by being indicative of a value of current that can be supplied to the electronic device by the adapter.

3. The tip of claim 1, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a transmitter which transmits the power output indication signal to the electronic device.

4. The tip of claim 1, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a receiver configured to receive an interrogation request from the electronic device for the power output indication signal.

5. The tip of claim 1, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a receiver and a transmitter, the receiver configured to receive an interrogation request from the electronic device and the transmitter configured to transmit the power output indication signal to the electronic device in response to the interrogation request.

6. A tip for transferring DC power generated by an adapter to an electronic device, the tip comprising:

an input connector which is detachably mateable to a connector which is electrically coupled to the DC power generated by the adapter;

an output connector which is detachably mateable to the electronic device;

a plurality of conductors to transfer the DC power from the input connector to the output connector to provide the DC power to the electronic device;

a control circuit which is electrically coupled to the adapter when the input connector is mated to the connector for setting at least one programming signal which programs at least one parameter of the DC power; and

power indication circuitry responsive to the at least one programming signal to transmit to the electronic device via the output connector a power output indication signal representative of an amount of power available to be supplied to the electronic device by the adapter.

7. The tip of claim 6, wherein the at least one parameter of the DC power programmed by the control circuit is current.

8. The tip of claim 6, wherein the power output indication signal is representative of the amount of power by being indicative of a value of current that can be supplied to the electronic device by the adapter.

9. The tip of claim 6, wherein the power output indication signal is one of a plurality of values selected in response to the at least one programming signal.

10. The tip of claim 9, wherein the plurality of values are stored in a memory.

11. The tip of claim 6, wherein the power output indication signal is one of a plurality of character strings selected in response to the at least one programming signal.

12. The tip of claim 11, wherein the plurality of character strings are stored in a memory.

13. The tip of claim 6, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a measurement circuit which receives the at least one programming signal as an input.

14. The tip of claim 13, wherein the measurement circuit includes a comparator.

15. The tip of claim 13, wherein the measurement circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter.

16. The tip of claim 6, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a transmitter which transmits the power output indication signal to the electronic device.

17. The tip of claim 6, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a receiver configured to receive an interrogation request from the electronic device for the power output indication signal.

18. The tip of claim 6, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a receiver and a transmitter, the receiver configured to receive an interrogation request from the electronic device and the transmitter configured to transmit the power output indication signal to the electronic device in response to the interrogation request.

19. The tip of claim 18, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a memory which stores a plurality of power output indication signals, one of which is selected in response to the at least one programming signal, the transmitter being coupled to the memory to transmit the selected power output indication signal to the electronic device in response to the interrogation request.

20. The tip of claim 19, wherein the receiver, memory and transmitter are included in a signal integrated circuit.

21. Power supply equipment comprising:

an adapter to convert power from a power source, external to the adapter, to DC power for powering an electronic device;

a cable having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being electrically coupled to the DC power from the adapter and the distal end terminating in a connector; and

a tip which includes;

an input connector which is detachably mateable to the connector to receive the DC power;

an output connector which is detachably mateable to the electronic device;

a plurality of conductors to transfer the DC power from the input connector to the output connector to provide the DC power to the electronic device; and

power indication circuitry to transmit to the electronic device via the output connector a power output indication signal representative of an amount of power available to be supplied to the electronic device by the adapter.

22. The power supply equipment of claim 21, wherein the power output indication signal is representative of the amount of power by being indicative of a value of current that can be supplied to the electronic device by the adapter.

23. The power supply equipment of claim 21, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a transmitter which transmits the power output indication signal to the electronic device.

24. The power supply equipment of claim 21, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a receiver configured to receive an interrogation request from the electronic device for the power output indication signal.

25. The power supply equipment of claim 21, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a receiver and a transmitter, the receiver configured to receive an interrogation request from the electronic device and the transmitter configured to transmit the power output indication signal to the electronic device in response to the interrogation request.

26. Power supply equipment comprising:

an adapter to convert power from a power source, external to the adapter, to DC power for powering an electronic device;

a cable having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being electrically coupled to the DC power from the adapter and the distal end terminating in a connector; and

a tip which includes;

an input connector which is detachably mateable to the connector to receive the DC power;

an output connector which is detachably mateable to the electronic device;

a plurality of conductors to transfer the DC power from the input connector to the output connector to provide the DC power to the electronic device;

a control circuit which is electrically coupled to the adapter when the input connector is mated to the connector for setting at least one programming signal which programs at least one parameter of the DC power; and

power indication circuitry responsive to the at least one programming signal to transmit to the electronic device via the output connector a power output indication signal representative of an amount of power available to be supplied to the electronic device by the adapter.

27. The power supply equipment of claim 26, wherein the at least one parameter of the DC power programmed by the control circuit is current.

28. The power supply equipment of claim 26, wherein the power output indication signal is representative of the amount of power by being indicative of a value of current that can be supplied to the electronic device by the adapter.

29. The power supply equipment of claim 26, wherein the power output indication signal is one of a plurality of values selected in response to the at least one programming signal.

30. The power supply equipment of claim 29, wherein the plurality of values are stored in a memory.

31. The power supply equipment of claim 26, wherein the power output indication signal is one of a plurality of character strings selected in response to the at least one programming signal.

32. The power supply equipment of claim 31, wherein the plurality of character strings are stored in a memory.

33. The power supply equipment of claim 26, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a measurement circuit which receives the at least one programming signal as an input.

34. The power supply equipment of claim 33, wherein the measurement circuit includes a comparator.

35. The power supply equipment of claim 33, wherein the measurement circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter.

36. The power supply equipment of claim 26, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a transmitter which transmits the power output indication signal to the electronic device.

37. The power supply equipment of claim 26, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a receiver configured to receive an interrogation request from the electronic device for the power output indication signal.

38. The power supply equipment of claim 26, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a receiver and a transmitter, the receiver configured to receive an interrogation request from the electronic device and the transmitter configured to transmit the power output indication signal to the electronic device in response to the interrogation request.

39. The power supply equipment of claim 38, wherein the power indication circuitry includes a memory which stores a plurality of power output indication signals, one of which is selected in response to the at least one programming signal, the transmitter being coupled to the memory to transmit the selected power output indication signal to the electronic device in response to the interrogation request.

40. The power supply equipment of claim 39, wherein the receiver, memory and transmitter are included in a signal integrated circuit.