Power level identification circuit, power level flag circuit and power level supply system

• US 9,176,172 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2013
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cloud Network Technology Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Liao, Ming-Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOAI AN D
• Application Number:
  US14/011,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20140333288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 324/76.11, 324/103.R, 324/103.P, 324/120, 702/1, 702/57, 702/60
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/00 Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof G01R5/00 takes precedence; for measuring bioelectric currents or voltages A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/005 Measuring apparent power
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/006 Measuring power factor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/10 by using square-law characteristics of circuit elements, e.g. diodes, to measure power absorbed by loads of known impedance G01R21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/00 Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/04 of instruments for measuring time integral of power or current

Abstract

A power level identification circuit includes a power interface, a voltage conversion unit, a waveform detection unit, a signal pre-processing unit and a processing unit. The power interface receives electrical power and first signals indicating a level of the power. The voltage conversion unit receives the power from the power interface and converts the power. The waveform detection unit filters the power and obtains the first signals indicating power level. The signal pre-processing unit shapes the waveform of the first signals indicating power level and thereby generates second signals indicating power level. The processing unit identifies a level of the second signals indicating power level and switches to one of modes of the power level identification circuit corresponding to the identified level of the second signals indicating power level. A power level flag circuit and a power level supply system are also provided.

Claims

1. A power level identification circuit with different modes corresponding to different power levels, the power level identification circuit comprising:

a power interface, which receives electrical power and first signals indicating a level of the power;

a voltage conversion unit, connected to the power interface, the voltage conversion unit receiving the power from the power interface and converting the power;

a waveform detection unit, connected to the power interface, the waveform detection unit filtering the power and obtaining the first signals indicating power level;

a signal pre-processing unit, connected to the waveform detection unit, the signal pre-processing unit shaping waveforms of the first signals indicating power level and thereby generating second signals indicating power level; and

a processing unit, connected to the signal pre-processing unit, the processing unit identifying a level of the second signals indicating power level and switching to one of the modes of the power level identification circuit corresponding to the identified level of the second signals indicating power level.

2. The power level identification circuit of claim 1, wherein the power level is a predetermined measurable parameter of the electrical power, and comprises at least one item selected from the group consisting of power level measurable in watts, current level measurable in amps, and voltage level measurable in volts.

3. The power level identification circuit of claim 1, further comprising a data transference unit connected between the signal pre-processing unit and the processing unit, wherein the data transference unit receives and stores the second signals indicating power level, and the processing unit reads the second signals indicating power level from the data transference unit.

4. The power level identification circuit of claim 3, further comprising a pre-stored power level encoded signal library, wherein the processing unit searches for the level of the second signals indicating power level from the pre-stored power level encoded signal library to identify the level of the second signals indicating power level.

5. The power level identification circuit of claim 3, wherein the data transference unit comprises one item selected from the group consisting of a single chip microcomputer (SCM), a micro control unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

6. The power level identification circuit of claim 1, further comprising a pre-stored power level encoded signal library, wherein the processing unit searches for the level of the second signals indicating power level from the pre-stored power level encoded signal library to identify the level of the second signals indicating power level.

7. The power level identification circuit of claim 1, wherein in response to the processing unit not identifying the level of the second signals indicating power level, the processing unit suspends working of the power level identification circuit.

8. The power level identification circuit of claim 1, wherein the waveform detection unit comprises a zener diode with an anode connected to the signal pre-processing unit and a cathode connected to a node between the voltage conversion unit and the power interface.

9. The power level identification circuit of claim 1, wherein the signal pre-processing unit shapes the waveforms of the first signals indicating power level such that the second signals indicating power level accurately correspond to the first signals indicating power level.

10. The power level identification circuit of claim 1, wherein the signal pre-processing unit comprises:

a photoelectric sensor with an input connected to the waveform detection unit, and an output connected to the processing unit; and

a resistor, connected between the input of the photoelectric sensor and the waveform detection unit.

11. The power level identification circuit of claim 1, further comprising at least one function module;

wherein when the processing unit switches to the one of the modes, the processing unit turns on or turns off the at least one function module according to the one of the modes; and

in response to the power interface not receiving the first signals indicating power level, the processing unit turns off the at least one function module.

12. The power level identification circuit of claim 11, wherein the at least one function module comprises at least one power over Ethernet (PoE) function module.

13. A power level flag circuit, comprising:

a voltage conversion unit;

a power interface, connected to the voltage conversion unit, the power interface receiving electrical power from the voltage conversion unit;

a signal level coding unit, connected to the voltage conversion unit, the signal level coding unit identifying a level of the power output by the voltage conversion unit, and generating signals indicating the level of the power;

a first isolation unit, connected between the power interface and the voltage conversion unit, the first isolation unit isolating the signals indicating power level in the power interface so that the voltage conversion unit can supply the power via the power interface; and

a second isolation unit, connected between the signal level coding unit and the power interface, the second isolation unit isolating the power in the power interface so that the signal level coding unit can transmit the signals indicating power level via the power interface.

14. The power level flag circuit of claim 13, wherein the power level is a predetermined measurable parameter of the electrical power, and comprises at least one item selected from the group consisting of power level measurable in watts, current level measurable in amps, and voltage level measurable in volts.

15. The power level flag circuit of claim 13, wherein the signal level coding unit generates the signals indicating power level according to predetermined coding rules of the power.

16. The power level flag circuit of claim 13, wherein the first isolation unit comprises a diode with an anode connected to the voltage conversion unit and a cathode connected to the power interface.

17. The power level flag circuit of claim 13, wherein the second isolation unit comprises a capacitor with a first end connected to the signal level coding unit and a second end connected to a node between the power interface and the fist isolation unit.

18. The power level flag circuit of claim 13, wherein the signal level coding unit comprises one item selected from the group consisting of a single chip microcomputer (SCM), a micro control unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

19. A power level supply system, comprising:

a power level identification circuit with different modes corresponding to different power levels, the power level identification circuit comprising;

a first power interface, which receives electrical power and first signals indicating a level of the power;

a first voltage conversion unit, connected to the first power interface, the first voltage conversion unit receiving the power from the first power interface and converting the power;

a waveform detection unit, connected to the first power interface, the waveform detection unit filtering the power and obtaining the first signals indicating power level;

a signal pre-processing unit, connected to the waveform detection unit, the signal pre-processing unit shaping waveforms of the first signals indicating power level and thereby generating second signals indicating power level; and

a processing unit, connected to the signal pre-processing unit, the processing unit identifying a level of the second signals indicating power level and switching to one of the modes of the power level identification circuit corresponding to the identified level of the second signals indicating power level; and

a power level flag circuit, comprising;

a second voltage conversion unit;

a second power interface, connected to the first power interface and the second voltage conversion unit, the second power interface receiving the power from the second voltage conversion unit;

a signal level coding unit, connected to the second voltage conversion unit, the signal level coding unit identifying a level of the power output by the second voltage conversion unit, and generating the first signals indicating power level;

a first isolation unit, connected between the second power interface and the second voltage conversion unit, the first isolation unit isolating the first signals indicating power level in the second power interface so that the second voltage conversion unit can supply the power via the second power interface; and

a second isolation unit, connected between the signal level coding unit and the second power interface, the second isolation unit isolating the power in the second power interface so that the signal level coding unit can transmit the first signals indicating power level via the second power interface.