System and method for providing power through a reverse local data transfer connection

• US 8,788,852 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Por, Choon Gun, Chun, Ee Wen
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US13/175,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20130007336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/340, 320/126, 320/127, 320/128, 320/137
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]

Abstract

A power source device supplies power to a host for charging a finite power source of the host. The power is supplied through an interface connecting the host device. The interface may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable or another type of local connection cable.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a controller to set a first circuit path between a finite power source and a connector based on a condition, wherein the condition is to include detection of a connection of an interface between the connector and a port of a host by detecting a reception of a detection signal on a data line of the interface, and the controller is to generate a first control signal to set the first circuit path, in response to the detected detection signal on the data line, the first control signal to change a state of a switch to allow power to pass from the finite power source through the connector when coupled to the interface, the controller including signal lines that match and are to couple to signal lines of the interface, the signal lines of the interface to include a power line, at least two data lines and a ground line, and wherein the finite power source is to output power to the power line of the interface along the first circuit path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, and the port is a USB port.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a converter to convert power output from the finite power source from a first level to a second level compatible with the interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is to set a second circuit path to charge the finite power source based on power received from the interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the finite power source is a battery.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a mobile communication device or an electronic book device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a battery pack which excludes circuitry for performing network communications and multimedia functions.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises the finite power source and the connector.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller to provide a detection signal through a data line of the interface to another controller, and the another controller to detect connection of the interface based on the received detection signal.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a host controller to set a first circuit path between a host port and a finite power source based on a condition, wherein the condition is to include detection of a connection of an interface between the port and a connector of a device by detecting a reception of a detection signal on a data line of the interface, and in response to detection of the detection signal on the data line, the host controller is to change a state of a first switch to allow power to pass along the first circuit path to a battery, the host controller including signal lines that match and are to couple to at least data lines of the interface, and wherein power from a power line of the interface is to pass along the first circuit path to charge the battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, and the connector is a USB connector.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is a computer.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the host controller to provide a detection signal through a data line of the interface to another controller, and the another controller to detect connection of the interface based on the received detection signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the host controller is to control a selector to allow power from a primary power source to charge the battery when the connection between the port and the connector is terminated.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the host controller is to change the state of the first switch and change a state of a second switch to allow power from the primary power source to flow along a second circuit path, and wherein the second circuit path is to provide power to the device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the host controller is to change the state of the first switch and to change the state of the second switch when a signal is received indicating that a battery of the device is to be charged.

17. A method comprising:

detecting connection of an interface between a device and a host by detecting a detection signal on a data line of the interface; and

setting a first circuit path in the device based on detection of the detection signal, and the setting of the first circuit path includes generating, in response to the detection signal, a first control signal to set the first circuit path,

wherein the first control signal is to change a state of a switch to allow power to pass from a finite power source to be output to a power line of the interface through a connector of the device along the first circuit path, the power to pass through the power line of the interface to be used to charge a battery of the host.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the device is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device, and the host is a USB host.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the controller is to set a second circuit path to charge the finite power source based on power received from the interface.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the finite power source is a battery.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the device is a mobile communication device.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the device is an electronic book device.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the device is battery pack which excludes circuitry for performing network communications and multimedia functions.

24. A method comprising:

detecting connection of an interface between a host and a device by detecting a detection signal on a data line of the interface; and

setting a first circuit path in the host based on detection of the detection signal, and the setting of the first circuit path includes generating a first control signal to set the first circuit path in response to the detection signal,

wherein the first control signal is to change a state of a switch to allow power from the interface to be transferred to a battery along the first circuit path, the power supplied from a finite power source of the device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the port is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, and the connector is a USB connector.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the finite power source is a battery.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the host is a computer, and the device is a mobile communication device.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the host is a computer, and the device is an electronic book device.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the host is a computer, and the device is a computer.