Momentarily enabled electronic device

• US 8,063,625 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Depew, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US12/141,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20090315411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 323/318, 323349-351, 361/18, 361/42, 361/55, 361/56, 361/86, 361/91.1, 307/125, 307/130, 307/134, 307/137
• US Class Current: 323/318
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/28 Modifications for introducing a time delay before switching modifications to provide a choice of time-intervals for executing more than one switching action H03K17/296
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/0016 by using a control or a clock signal, e.g. in order to apply power supply

Abstract

A circuit or apparatus for providing intermittent or interruptible power to an electronic device. The circuit may provide power upon user initiation and interrupt that power in response to a user command, fault state, period of inactivity and so forth. As one example, interruptible power may be initially provided to activate or “power up” an electronic device and constant power provided after the initial activation. The initial powering up of the device may be facilitated by closing two contacts. The circuit may continue to provide power after the button is released through a monitoring and/or feedback mechanism.

Claims

1. A method for supplying power to a device, comprising the operations of:

closing a contact;

in response to closing the contact, activating a power converter;

in response to activating the power converter, supplying an output voltage;

raising a voltage of a node above a shutdown voltage, wherein raising the voltage of the node charges a capacitor connected to the node; and

maintaining the output voltage so long as the node voltage exceeds the shutdown voltage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of raising a voltage of a node above a shutdown voltage comprises:

activating a transistor, thereby permitting the voltage of the node to approximately equal the output voltage.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the operation of activating the transistor comprises:

determining the contact is open;

detecting the output voltage; and

in response to both determining the contact is open and detecting the output voltage, activating the transistor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the operation of, in response to closing the contact, activating a power converter comprises:

supplying power from a power source to the capacitor, thereby at least partially charging the capacitor; and

maintaining, via the capacitor, the node voltage above the shutdown voltage at least until the transistor is activated.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the operations of:

opening the contact;

closing the contact a second time for at least a minimum time; and

after the minimum time, deactivating the transistor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the operations of:

opening the contact;

closing the contact a second time for at least a minimum time; and

after the minimum time, initiating a function associated with the device.

7. A method for supplying power to a device, comprising the operations of:

closing a contact;

in response to closing the contact, activating a power converter;

in response to activating the power converter, supplying an output voltage;

raising a voltage of a node above a shutdown voltage;

maintaining the output voltage so long as the node voltage exceeds the shutdown voltage;

opening the contact;

closing the contact a second time for at least a minimum time; and

after the minimum time, initiating a function associated with the device.