Charger system and method

• US 8,330,422 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2012
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• 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: Green, Steven R., Bayne, Ryan M., Skarine, Alexei
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boateng, Alexis
• Application Number:
  US13/466,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20120217924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 217 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, 320/137, 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 configured to provide power through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, the charger comprising:

a power converter configured to receive power from a power source and to generate a power output; and

a charging controller configured to control an amount of power output from the charger, and to communicate an identification signal via USB data lines, the identification signal for indicating that the power output exceeds standard USB power limits.

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

line, and the identification signal is based on a resistance between the D+ and D−

data lines.

3. The charger of claim 2, wherein the identification signal is based on the data lines being pulled into a high state.

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

5. The charger of claim 1, further comprising at least one Universal Serial Bus connector coupled to the charging controller.

6. A method for providing a charge current through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, the USB connector comprising a D+ data line and a D−

data line, the method comprising;

receiving power at an interface configured to receive power from a power source;

converting the received power to a power output;

delivering the power output to the USB connector; and

communicating an identification signal via the D+ and D−

data lines, the identification signal for indicating that the power output exceeds standard USB power limits.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the identification signal is based on a resistance between the D+ and D−

data lines.

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

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising pulling the data lines into the high state 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 through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, the USB connector comprising a D+ data line and a D−

data line, the method comprising;

receiving power at an interface configured to receive power from an external power source;

converting the received power to a power output;

controlling an amount of power delivered to the USB connector, the controlled amount of power derived from the power output;

enabling an identification signal on the D+ and D−

data lines; and

delivering output power to the USB connector based on at least one of voltage and current draw detectable from power lines of the USB connector, the output power not being limited by standard USB power limits.

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

in a high logic state.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the data lines are pulled into a high state through resistance.

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