Dynamic remaining maximum power allocation to secondary port while staying within optimal efficiency range of power supply
First Claim
1. For use in a high-speed serialized bus protocol device having a plurality of ports capable of transferring both data and electrical power, apparatus for dynamically allocating the distribution of the electrical power over said plurality of serial ports, comprising:
- a power controller, the power controller pre-programmed with an optimal efficient power use value;
a first module configured to determine an amount of electrical current drawn over a first portion of said plurality of serial ports; and
a second module configured to adjust an amount of current available to a second portion of said plurality of serial ports, said adjustment being based at least in part upon the amount of current drawn over the first portion of said plurality of serial ports and the optimal efficient power use value of the power controller when the high-speed serialized bus protocol device is not plugged into an external power source.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for dynamically adjusting the amount of power (or current) distributed to one or more connected devices via electrical interfaces. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first module adapted to detect current drawn by a first set of ports, and a second module adapted to adjust the current provided to a second set of ports based on the detected current. The second module is also optionally adapted to distribute unreserved current among the devices according to an allocation protocol. In the exemplary context of a plurality of interconnected serial bus devices, the invention enables a device to draw more current than that required to be reserved for that device (such as to comply with a specification such as USB), yet without increasing the total amount of power which must be dedicated to the serial ports as a whole. Power supply efficiency may also be advantageously optimized.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. For use in a high-speed serialized bus protocol device having a plurality of ports capable of transferring both data and electrical power, apparatus for dynamically allocating the distribution of the electrical power over said plurality of serial ports, comprising:
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a power controller, the power controller pre-programmed with an optimal efficient power use value; a first module configured to determine an amount of electrical current drawn over a first portion of said plurality of serial ports; and a second module configured to adjust an amount of current available to a second portion of said plurality of serial ports, said adjustment being based at least in part upon the amount of current drawn over the first portion of said plurality of serial ports and the optimal efficient power use value of the power controller when the high-speed serialized bus protocol device is not plugged into an external power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of optimizing the power use characteristics within a first device, said first device having a power source useful for the supply of power to a plurality of second devices, the method comprising:
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placing a first one of said plurality of second devices in communication with said first device; determining the power requirements of said first one of said plurality of second devices; allocating power to said first one of said plurality of second devices based at least in part on said act of determining; and allocating power to others of said plurality of second devices when placed in communication with said first device, said allocating power to others being based at least in part on;
(i) said allocating to said first one of said second devices, and (ii) a characteristic of said power source; andwhere the allocating power to others further comprises; determining at least one of an optimal efficiency value or optimal efficiency range for said battery powered power source. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable apparatus comprising at least one program useful for dynamic power allocation over a plurality of ports of a host electronic device, the at least one program, that when executed, cause the host electronic device to:
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determine electrical current drawn over a first one or more ports of the plurality of ports; and adjust an available amount of current to a second one or more ports of the plurality of ports, the adjustment based at least in part on the determined electrical current drawn over the first one or more ports and an optimal efficient power value or range pre-programmed on a power controller characterized by at least an output-versus-input ratio. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification