Multiport power converter with load detection capabilities
First Claim
1. An apparatus configured to provide power and power level data for a plurality of external electronic devices, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of ports;
load detection circuitry that detects when at least one of the plurality of external electronic devices is connected to the apparatus, wherein the load detection circuitry comprises a control switch and a current-limited voltage regulator configured to provide an output voltage larger than a nominal power supply output voltage; and
control circuitry configured to;
compute a per-port available power level that varies based on a number of active loads connected to the plurality of ports, andprovide a code to at least one external electronic device of the plurality of external electronic devices, via a data terminal of at least one port of the plurality of ports, wherein the code comprises data corresponding to the per-port available power level available to the at least one external electronic device and provides a reference for the at least one external electronic device to adjust an amount of power received from the at least one port.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Power converters are provided that convert alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power. A power converter may have multiple ports. Each port may have an associated connector with multiple power and data terminals. When an electronic device is connected to a given port, the electronic device draws DC power from the power converter. To ensure that the capacity of the power converter is not exceeded when multiple devices are connected to the ports of the power converter, the power converter may actively monitor its ports for active loads. Load detection circuitry can determine what number of ports are active. Control circuitry can compute a per-port available DC power level based on the number of active ports and can provide this information to connected devices.
102 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus configured to provide power and power level data for a plurality of external electronic devices, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of ports; load detection circuitry that detects when at least one of the plurality of external electronic devices is connected to the apparatus, wherein the load detection circuitry comprises a control switch and a current-limited voltage regulator configured to provide an output voltage larger than a nominal power supply output voltage; and control circuitry configured to; compute a per-port available power level that varies based on a number of active loads connected to the plurality of ports, and provide a code to at least one external electronic device of the plurality of external electronic devices, via a data terminal of at least one port of the plurality of ports, wherein the code comprises data corresponding to the per-port available power level available to the at least one external electronic device and provides a reference for the at least one external electronic device to adjust an amount of power received from the at least one port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for managing a supply of power to a plurality of external electronic devices, the device comprising:
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a plurality of ports configured to provide power to the plurality of external electronic devices; circuitry that detects when at least one external electronic device of the plurality of external electronic devices is connected to the device; and control circuitry configured to; determine a per-port available power level for each port of the plurality of ports based on a number of active loads that are connected to the plurality of ports, and provide a code to the at least one external electronic device of the plurality of external electronic devices, via at least one data terminal of a port of the plurality of ports, wherein the code comprises data corresponding to the per-port available power level for the at least one external electronic device and provides a reference for the at least one external electronic device to adjust an amount of power received from the port. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating an apparatus that includes a plurality of ports that are configured to be coupled to at least one external electronic device of a plurality of external electronic devices, the method comprising:
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determining a number of ports of the plurality of ports that are connected to an active load; determining a per-port available power level that is available to the at least one external electronic device of the plurality of external electronic devices connected to at least one port of the plurality of ports; and providing a code to the at least one external electronic device through a data line of the at least one port, wherein the code comprises data corresponding to the per-port available power level for the at least one external electronic device of the plurality of external electronic devices and provides a reference for the at least one external electronic device of the plurality of external electronic devices to adjust an amount of power received from the at least one port of the plurality of ports. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification