Powering an electrical device through a legacy adapter capable of digital communication

• US 8,296,587 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2008
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Green Plug, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Green Plug, Inc.
• Inventors: Paniagua, Frank Jr., Mody, Parag, Yassaie, Hossein
• Primary Examiner(s): Spittle, Matthew D
• Application Number:
  US11/969,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713/330, 713/340, 307/11, 307/31, 307/38, 307/154, 320/106, 320/115, 320/132, 320/134, 320/137
• 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 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• 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 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0012 Control circuits using digital or numerical techniques in DC/DC converters H02M3/157, H02M3/33515; in DC-AC converters H02M7/53873
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators

Abstract

A legacy adapter for use with devices to be powered by a power adapter is described. The legacy adapter includes a multi-purpose power connector configured to couple to a power adapter external to the electrical device, a connector configured to connect the electrical device, and a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with the power adapter. The microprocessor communicates power requirements of the electrical device to the power adapter through the multi-purpose power connector. A related method of receiving power from a power adapter external to an electrical device through a legacy adapter is also described.

Claims

1. A legacy adapter for use with a legacy electrical device, the legacy adapter comprising:

a multi-purpose power connector of the legacy adapter configured to couple to a power adapter external to the legacy electrical device,

wherein the power adapter is configured to receive power from at least one power source from a group consisting of an AC source, a power outlet, a motor, a generator, and a battery, and

wherein the power adapter includes a digital logic component, at least one regulator, and a multi-purpose power connector of the power adapter configured to connect to the multi-purpose power connector of the legacy adapter;

a legacy connector configured to connect to the legacy electrical device;

memory, configured to store power requirements of the legacy electrical device; and

a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with the digital logic of the power adapter, wherein the digital communications include power requirements of the legacy electrical device, and the communication is packet-based protocol including 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.

2. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the power requirements include one or more of:

voltage, current, and wattage parameters.

3. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the power requirements include at least a voltage requirement and a current requirement.

4. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to communicate at least one of the following from a group consisting of:

device identification information, power requirements, proprietary information, battery identification information, and battery condition information if the legacy electrical device includes a rechargeable battery.

5. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the legacy connector configured to connect to the legacy electrical device is configured to connect to a portable device.

6. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is a microcontroller.

7. The legacy adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory in communication with the microprocessor for storing power requirements of the device, wherein the microprocessor is configured to communicate digitally with the power adapter the power requirements stored in the memory.

8. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to digitally communicate proprietary information of the electrical device to the power adapter.

9. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the packet layer protocol includes at least four message types.

10. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the messages types include three flow control message types and a power statement message type.

11. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the packet layer protocol includes a payload segment that includes proprietary information.

12. A method of supplying power from a power adapter external to a legacy electrical device-through a legacy adapter, comprising:

communicating, via a microprocessor of a legacy adapter, packetized digital communications to a digital logic component of the power adapter, including 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,

storing, in a memory, power requirements of the legacy electrical device;

receiving power supplied by the power adapter based on the power requirements of the legacy electrical device via a multi-purpose power connector of the legacy adapter for connecting to a multi-purpose power connector of the power adapter;

wherein the power adapter is further configured to receive power from at least one power source from a group consisting of an AC source, a power outlet, a motor, a generator, and a battery; and

supplying the received power to the legacy electrical device through a legacy connector of the legacy adapter for connecting to the legacy electrical device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the power requirements include one or more from a group consisting of voltage, current, and wattage parameters.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the microprocessor communicates at least one of the following from a group consisting of:

device identification information, power requirements, proprietary information, battery identification information, and battery condition information if the legacy electrical device includes a rechargeable battery.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein communicating digital communications including power requirements of the legacy electrical device comprises retrieving power requirements of the legacy electrical device from memory.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the packet layer protocol includes at least four message types.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the messages types include three flow control message types and a power statement message type.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the packet layer protocol includes a payload segment that includes proprietary information.