Accessory power management

• US 8,069,356 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Krueger, Scott, Rathi, Shailesh, Bolton, Lawrence G., Ananny, John
• Primary Examiner(s): CONNOLLY, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US12/695,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20110167281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/340
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/30 Charge provided using DC bus or data bus of a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and circuits for managing power among portable computing devices and one or more accessories. One example provides commands to improve power management between a portable computing device and one or more accessories. Other examples provide commands that may allow a portable computing device to charge at a maximum available current level while providing an accessory with sufficient current for its proper operation. Another may help prevent a portable computing device from drawing a high level of current that could be detrimental to an accessory, while others provide commands that may allow a battery pack to instruct a portable computing device to not charge its internal battery. Another example may allow a portable computing device to determine which power supply among multiple power supplies should be used to power an accessory, while others may allow an accessory to retrieve charging current parameters from a portable computing device.

Claims

1. A method of operating an accessory, the method comprising:

establishing a connection between the accessory and a portable computing device;

receiving, by the accessory, power from an external power source;

determining, by the accessory, a current capability of the external power source;

determining, by the accessory, a net current capability by deducting a current requirement of the accessory from the current capability of the external power source; and

signaling, by the accessory, via the connection to the portable computing device that the portable computing device is to draw a current having a limit equal to the net current capability.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the external power source comprises a power converter, the power converter coupled to an alternating-current power supply, wherein the power converter converts the alternating-current power supply to a direct-current power supply.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the current capability of the external power source is determined by the accessory by reading resistor values on at least one universal serial bus data pin.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, by the accessory, a signal from the portable computing device acknowledging that the portable computing device received the signaling from the accessory.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the accessory is a docking station.

6. A method of operating a portable computing device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection between the portable computing device and an accessory;

receiving, by the portable computing device, an indication of a current capability of an external power source powering the accessory;

receiving, by the portable computing device, a power instruction from the accessory, the power instruction indicating a current requirement of the accessory;

determining, by the portable computing device, a net current capability by deducting the current requirement of the accessory from the current capability of the external power source; and

drawing, by the portable computing device, a current having a limit equal to the net current capability.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the external power source comprises a power converter, the power converter coupled to an alternating-current power supply, wherein the power converter converts the alternating-current power supply to a direct-current power supply.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the current capability of the external power source is determined by the portable computing device by reading resistor values on at least one universal serial bus data pin.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein resistor values on the at least one universal serial bus data pin are provided by the external power source.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the accessory is a docking station.