Power adapter capable of communicating digitally with electronic devices using packet-based protocol
First Claim
1. A power adapter to provide power to a device, comprising:
- an input port configured to receive power from a power source;
a regulator configured to convert the received power from the power source;
an output port configured to deliver power from the regulator to the device; and
a programmable microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with a communication module associated with the device to determine power requirements of the device, the power requirements of the device being determined based on power adapter-maintained information stored in a memory associated with the microprocessor and device information communicated to the programmable microprocessor from the device via the communication module, wherein the regulator is configured to convert the power from the power source in accordance with the determined power requirements of the device, and wherein the power adaptor communicates digitally with the device using a packet layer protocol via a packet consisting of a 1 byte transmission start segment, a 4 byte vendor/manufacturer identifier segment, a 1 byte message type segment, a payload segment, a 2 byte checksum segment and a 1 byte transmission end segment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power adapter capable of communicating digitally with a device or a legacy adapter associated with a device is described. The power adapter includes an input port to receive power from a power source, a regulator to convert the received power from the power source, an output port configured to deliver power from the regulator to a device, and a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with a communication module associated with the device to determine the power requirements of the device. The regulator converts the power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the device. A related method of adapting power to a device is also described.
36 Citations
90 Claims
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1. A power adapter to provide power to a device, comprising:
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an input port configured to receive power from a power source; a regulator configured to convert the received power from the power source; an output port configured to deliver power from the regulator to the device; and a programmable microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with a communication module associated with the device to determine power requirements of the device, the power requirements of the device being determined based on power adapter-maintained information stored in a memory associated with the microprocessor and device information communicated to the programmable microprocessor from the device via the communication module, wherein the regulator is configured to convert the power from the power source in accordance with the determined power requirements of the device, and wherein the power adaptor communicates digitally with the device using a packet layer protocol via a packet consisting of a 1 byte transmission start segment, a 4 byte vendor/manufacturer identifier segment, a 1 byte message type segment, a payload segment, a 2 byte checksum segment and a 1 byte transmission end segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of adapting power to a device comprising:
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receiving power from a power source at an input port; communicating digitally with a communication module associated with the device to receive device information of the device, the digital communications comprising transmission of information using a packet-based protocol via a packet consisting of a 1 byte transmission start segment, a 4 byte vendor/manufacturer identifier segment, a 1 byte message type segment, a payload segment, a 2 byte checksum segment and a 1 byte transmission end segment; determining the power requirements of the device based on the received device information and on power adapter-maintained information stored in a memory associated with a programmable microprocessor; converting the power from the power source in accordance with the determined power requirements of the device; and delivering the converted power to the device through an output port.
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36. A power adapter comprising:
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an input port configured to receive power from a power source; one of more regulators configured to convert power from the power source; a plurality of output ports configured to deliver power from the one or more regulators to a plurality of devices; and a programmable microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with a respective communication module associated with a respective device to determine power requirements of the respective device, wherein the power requirements of the respective device is determined based on power adapter-maintained information stored in a memory associated with the programmable microprocessor and on device information communicated to the programmable microprocessor from the respective device via the respective communication module, one of the one or more regulators is configured to convert the power from the power source in accordance with the determined power requirements of the respective device, and the power adaptor communicates digitally with the device using a packet layer protocol via a packet consisting of a 1 byte transmission start segment, a 4 byte vendor/manufacturer identifier segment, a 1 byte message type segment, a payload segment, a 2 byte checksum segment and a 1 byte transmission end segment. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A method of adapting power to a plurality of devices comprising:
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receiving power from a power source at an input port; communicating digitally with a communication module associated with a respective device of the plurality of devices to receive device information of the respective device, the digital communications comprising transmission of information using a packet-based protocol via a packet consisting of a 1 byte transmission start segment, a 4 byte vendor/manufacturer identifier segment, a 1 byte message type segment, a payload segment, a 2 byte checksum segment and a 1 byte transmission end segment; determining the power requirements of the respective device based on the received device information and on power adapter-maintained information stored in a memory associated with a microprocessor; converting power from the power source in accordance with the determined power requirements of the respective device; and delivering the converted power to the respective device through one of a plurality of output ports.
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76. A communication module for use with an electrical device, comprising:
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a programmable microprocessor, housed in the electrical device, configured to communicate digitally with an external power adapter to communicate device information of the electrical device to the power adapter through a port of the electrical device, and configured to determine power requirements of the electrical device based on power adapter-maintained information stored in a memory associated with a microprocessor and the communicated device information, the determined power requirements including at least a voltage requirement and a current requirement; wherein the communication module and power adaptor communicate digitally using a packet layer protocol via a packet consisting of a 1 byte transmission start segment, a 4 byte vendor/manufacturer identifier segment, a 1 byte message type segment, a payload segment, a 2 byte checksum segment and a 1 byte transmission end segment. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89)
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90. A method of receiving power from an external power adapter external to an electrical device, comprising:
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receiving an initial predefined voltage to facilitate communication between the external power adapter and the electrical device; communicating digitally with the external power adapter to communicate device information of the electrical device to the external power adapter through a power port of the electrical device, the digital communications comprising transmission of information using a packet-based protocol via a packet consisting of a 1 byte transmission start segment, a 4 byte vendor/manufacturer identifier segment, a 1 byte message type segment, a payload segment, a 2 byte checksum segment and a 1 byte transmission end segment; determining the power requirements of the electrical device based on the received device information and power adapter-maintained information stored in a memory associated with a microprocessor; receiving power supplied by the external power adapter based on the determined power requirements of the electrical device, wherein the power requirements include a voltage requirement and a current requirement.
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Specification