Power supply capable of receiving digital communications from electronic devices

• US 8,370,650 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Greenplug Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Greenplug Incorporated
• Inventors: Weston, Patrick Edward, Paniagua, Frank Patrick Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, ALBERT C
• Application Number:
  US12/487,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 713/323, 713/300, 320/114, 455/573, 710/16
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence

Abstract

A power supply capable of receiving digital communications from an electrical device is described. The power supply includes a microprocessor and instructions, configured for execution by the microprocessor, to receive a digital communication from a device to be powered by the power supply. A method of supplying power is also described. The method includes receiving a digital communication from a device and supplying power to the device based on the digital communication.

Claims

1. A power supply comprising:

an input port to receive power from a power source;

a plurality of regulators to convert the received power, comprising first and second programmable regulators to separately provide converted power to a device in accordance with power requirements of the device;

an output port comprising a plurality of conductor lines to supply the converted power to the device, wherein a first conductor line is coupled to the first programmable regulator that is configured to provide constant voltage and a second conductor line is coupled to the second programmable regulator that is configured to provide constant current; and

a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with the device through the output port to determine the power requirements of the device.

2. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the first programmable regulator is configured to power the device and the second programmable regulator is configured to charge a battery disposed in the device.

3. The power supply of claim 1, further comprising circuitry to provide a predefined voltage to the device through the output port.

4. The power supply of claim 1, further comprising circuitry to provide power to a microprocessor in the device.

5. The power supply of claim 4, wherein the circuitry is configured to provide a predefined voltage to the microprocessor in the device.

6. The power supply of claim 4, wherein the circuitry is configured to provide the power to the microprocessor in the device via a predefined voltage line configured to be coupled to the microprocessor.

7. The power supply according to claim 1, wherein the power received from the power source is DC.

8. A method for supplying power to a device, comprising:

at a power supply;

receiving power at an input port from a power source;

converting the received power using the plurality of regulators including first and second programmable regulators, the first and second programmable regulators separately providing converted power to a device in accordance with power requirements of the device through an output port comprising a plurality of conductor lines, wherein a first conductor line is coupled to the first programmable regulator that is configured to provide constant voltage and a second conductor line is coupled to the second programmable regulator that is configured to provide constant current; and

communicating digitally with the device through the output port to determine the power requirements of the device.