Charger system and method

• US 8,193,776 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fundamental Innovation Systems International LLC (Fundamental Innovation Systems International Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Alexei, Skarine, Green, Steven R., Bayne, Ryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US12/892,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20110018493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/132, 320/111, 320/113, 320/120, 320/145, 320/138, 320/155, 320/128, 320/162, 320/164, 320/11, 320/137, 320/134, 320/106, 320/124, 455/88
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Systems and methods of providing power through a Universal Serial Bus connector are provided. A charging system comprises an interface configured to receive power, a power converter coupled to the power source interface, the power converter configured to use the received power to generate power output, and a charging controller configured to control an amount of power provided at the USB connector on the power lines derived from the power output, and configured to generate an identification signal on the USB connector'"'"'s two data lines, the identification signal usable to indicate the charger is not subject to standard USB power limitations, the identification signal provided through the use of a resistance between the D+ and D− data lines.

Claims

1. A charger able to provide power through a Universal Serial Bus (“

USB”

) connector, the USB connector having two data lines, the charger comprising;

a power source interface configured to receive power;

a power converter coupled to the power source interface, the power converter configured to use the received power to generate power output; and

a charging controller configured to control an amount of power provided at the USB connector on power lines derived from the power output, and configured to generate an identification signal on the USB connector'"'"'s two data lines, the identification signal usable to indicate the charger is not subject to standard USB power limitations.

2. The charger of claim 1 wherein the two data lines are a D+ line and a D−

line, the identification signal is provided through the use of a resistance between the D+ and D−

data lines.

3. The charger of claim 2 where the identification signal comprises both data lines being pulled into a high state.

4. The charger of claim 3 where the data lines are pulled into the high state using at least one resistor.

5. The charger of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of USB connectors in operable connection to the charging controller.

6. A method for providing a charge current by a charger having a Universal Serial Bus (“

USB”

) connector, the USB connector having a D+ data line and a D−

data line, the method comprising;

receiving power at an interface configured to receive power;

generating a power output derived from the received power and providing the generated power at the USB connector; and

providing an identification signal using the USB connector'"'"'s D+ and D−

data lines, the identification signal usable to indicate the charger is not subject to standard USB power limitations.

7. The method of claim 6 where the identification signal is provided by using a resistance between the D+ and D−

data lines.

8. The method of claim 7 where the identification signal comprises both data lines being pulled into a high state.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising pulling the data lines high using at least one resistor.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of USB connectors, each USB connector operable to provide the identification signal.

11. A method for providing a charge current by a charger having a Universal Serial Bus (“

USB”

) connector, the USB connector having a D+ data line and a D−

data line, the method comprising;

receiving power at a power source interface configured to receive power from a source other than the charger;

converting the received power into output power;

controlling an amount of power provided at the USB connector, the controlled amount of power derived from the output power;

enabling an identification signal on the USB connector'"'"'s D+ and D−

lines; and

providing output power to the USB connector based on at least one of voltage and current draw detectable from the power lines of the USB connector, differently than normal USB power limitations.

12. The method of claim 11 where the identification signal comprises D+ and D−

both in a high logic state.

13. The method of claim 12 where both data lines are pulled into a high state through the use of a resistance.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising pulling the data lines high using at least one resistor.

15. A method for signaling by a charger having a Universal Serial Bus (“

USB”

) connector, the USB connector having two data lines, the method comprising;

receiving power at an interface configured to receive power;

converting the received power into output power;

providing power at the USB connector, the power derived from the power output; and

providing a signal on the USB connector'"'"'s two data lines, the signal usable to indicate the charger is not subject to standard USB power limitations.

16. The method of claim 15 where the signal comprises both D+ and D−

data lines in a high state.

17. The method of claim 16 where the data lines use a resistance while being pulled into the high state.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising pulling the data lines high using at least one resistor.