System bus with variable output power supply
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a system bus;
a plurality of devices, wherein each device in the plurality of devices is connected to the system bus and is configured to communicate with other devices in the plurality of devices via the system bus; and
a power supply connected to the system, wherein the power supply is configured to supply power to the plurality of devices via the system bus at a first current level and at a second current level, to detect a first change event associated with a device in the plurality of devices and in response to supply power to the plurality of devices at the second current level, and to detect a second change event associated with the device in the plurality of devices and in response to supply power to the plurality of devices at the first current level, wherein the power supply comprises;
a power supply input configured to receive an input voltage;
a voltage regulator connected to the power supply input;
a current sensor connected to the power supply input, wherein the current sensor is configured to provide a sensed output based on the input voltage;
a microcontroller including a digital output, wherein the microcontroller receives the input voltage via the voltage regulator and provides an output signal via the digital output, wherein the microcontroller stores the first current level and the second current level, and wherein the provided output signal is based on the input voltage and the stored first current level or is based on the input voltage and the stored second current level;
a resistor network connected between the voltage regulator and the microcontroller, wherein the resistor network converts the output signal of the microcontroller into a distinct voltage level;
an operational amplifier, wherein the operational amplifier has a positive input, a negative input, and an output, wherein the positive input is configured to receive the distinct voltage level from the resistor network, wherein the negative input is configured to receive the sensed output from the current sensor, and wherein the output is configured to provide a amplifier output;
a pass transistor connected to the output of the operational amplifier, wherein the pass transistor has a variable impedance based on the amplifier output from the output of the operational amplifier; and
a power supply output configured to provide an output at the first current level or the second current level;
wherein the amplifier output decreases when the sensed output is greater than the first current level, increasing the impedance of the pass transistor and reducing the output to the second current level, and wherein the amplifier output increases when the sensed output is less than the second current level, decreasing the impedance of the pass transistor and increasing the output to the first current level.
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Abstract
A power supply according to various embodiments of the disclosure is configured to detect an event and, in response to the event, alternately supply power to a plurality of provided devices via a provided bus at a first current level or at a second current level, the second current level less than the first current level. Among other things, embodiments in this disclosure help allow additional devices to be used on a bus, even where the total power consumption of the devices would normally exceed a maximum defined by a bus architecture. Furthermore, various embodiments help allow a single gauge of wire to be used throughout a bus network (even where long lengths of wire are required) while still providing sufficient power to the devices connected to the bus.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a system bus; a plurality of devices, wherein each device in the plurality of devices is connected to the system bus and is configured to communicate with other devices in the plurality of devices via the system bus; and a power supply connected to the system, wherein the power supply is configured to supply power to the plurality of devices via the system bus at a first current level and at a second current level, to detect a first change event associated with a device in the plurality of devices and in response to supply power to the plurality of devices at the second current level, and to detect a second change event associated with the device in the plurality of devices and in response to supply power to the plurality of devices at the first current level, wherein the power supply comprises; a power supply input configured to receive an input voltage; a voltage regulator connected to the power supply input; a current sensor connected to the power supply input, wherein the current sensor is configured to provide a sensed output based on the input voltage; a microcontroller including a digital output, wherein the microcontroller receives the input voltage via the voltage regulator and provides an output signal via the digital output, wherein the microcontroller stores the first current level and the second current level, and wherein the provided output signal is based on the input voltage and the stored first current level or is based on the input voltage and the stored second current level; a resistor network connected between the voltage regulator and the microcontroller, wherein the resistor network converts the output signal of the microcontroller into a distinct voltage level; an operational amplifier, wherein the operational amplifier has a positive input, a negative input, and an output, wherein the positive input is configured to receive the distinct voltage level from the resistor network, wherein the negative input is configured to receive the sensed output from the current sensor, and wherein the output is configured to provide a amplifier output; a pass transistor connected to the output of the operational amplifier, wherein the pass transistor has a variable impedance based on the amplifier output from the output of the operational amplifier; and a power supply output configured to provide an output at the first current level or the second current level; wherein the amplifier output decreases when the sensed output is greater than the first current level, increasing the impedance of the pass transistor and reducing the output to the second current level, and wherein the amplifier output increases when the sensed output is less than the second current level, decreasing the impedance of the pass transistor and increasing the output to the first current level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A power supply, comprising:
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a power supply input configured to receive an input voltage; a voltage regulator connected to the power supply input; a current sensor connected to the power supply input, wherein the current sensor is configured to provide a sensed output based on the input voltage; a microcontroller including a digital output, wherein the microcontroller receives the input voltage via the voltage regulator and provides an output signal via the digital output, wherein the microcontroller stores a first current level and a second current level, and wherein the provided output signal is based on the input voltage and the stored first current level or is based on the input voltage and the stored second current level; a resistor network connected between the voltage regulator and the microcontroller, wherein the resistor network converts the output signal of the microcontroller into a distinct voltage level; an operational amplifier, wherein the operational amplifier has a positive input, a negative input, and an output, wherein the positive input is configured to receive the distinct voltage level from the resistor network, wherein the negative input is configured to receive the sensed output from the current sensor, and wherein the output is configured to provide a amplifier output; a pass transistor connected to the output of the operational amplifier, wherein the pass transistor has a variable impedance based on the amplifier output from the output of the operational amplifier; and a power supply output configured to provide an output at the first current level or the second current level; wherein the amplifier output decreases when the sensed output is greater than the first current level, increasing the impedance of the pass transistor and reducing the output to the second current level, and wherein the amplifier output increases when the sensed output is less than the second current level, decreasing the impedance of the pass transistor and increasing the output to the first current level. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification