Methods, devices, and systems where an accessory controls power delivery from a host device to the accessory through an accessory port

• US 9,734,120 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2015
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Meneau, Phillip
• Primary Examiner(s): CONNOLLY, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US14/799,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20170017606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 713300
• 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 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

An accessory controls power delivery from a host device to the accessory by receiving and rectifying a wireless signal into an electrical voltage that operates an electronic switch. The electronic switch sets a voltage state of an electrical connection to the host device that triggers the host device to begin providing power. The accessory may no longer receive power from the host device once the wireless signal stops. The host device may be the source of the wireless signal and may thereby control whether the accessory draws power by operation of the wireless signal. Alternatively, the accessory may include a controller that once powered on by the host device as a result of the rectification of the wireless signal, maintains the same or a different electronic switch in a closed state to maintain power delivery from the host device until the controller is triggered to allow the electronic switch to open.

Claims

1. A method of triggering a host device with an accessory port to provide power to an accessory coupled to the accessory port, comprising:

receiving a wireless signal provided by the host device at the accessory while the accessory is not being powered with the accessory port by the host device;

rectifying the wireless signal into a rectified signal at the accessory;

charging a power source of the accessory with the rectified signal;

using power from the power source, manipulating by the accessory a voltage state of a first electrical connection at the accessory port to trigger the host device to begin providing power via a second electrical connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating by the accessory a voltage state of the first electrical connection comprises providing a voltage from the power source to a first electronic switch to electrically interconnect the first electrical connection to a ground electrical connection at the accessory port by operation of the first electronic switch.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising powering on a controller from the second electrical connection once the first electrical connection is interconnected to the ground electrical connection.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing a voltage from the controller to the first electronic switch, once the controller is powered on by the second electrical connection, to maintain the electrical interconnection between the first electrical connection and the ground electrical connection.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving an instruction at the accessory to power off via a data connection at the accessory port and then ceasing the maintaining of the interconnection of the first electrical connection to the ground electrical connection.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising starting a timer at the accessory after the host begins to provide power to the accessory and upon expiration of the timer, then ceasing the maintaining of the interconnection of the first electrical connection to the ground electrical connection.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing a voltage from the controller to a second electronic switch, once the controller is powered on by the second electrical connection, to interconnect the first electrical connection and the ground electrical connection by operation of the second electronic switch.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising monitoring by the controller for the presence of the voltage from the power source and when the voltage from the power source is below a threshold, then ceasing to provide the voltage to the second electronic switch.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the accessory port is a universal serial bus with an on-the-go feature.

10. A method of triggering a host device with an accessory port to provide power to an accessory coupled to the accessory port, comprising:

providing a first electronic switch of the accessory in a first state such that the accessory is not being powered by the host device;

upon the first electronic switch changing to a second state, manipulating by the accessory a voltage on a first electrical connection at the accessory port to trigger the host device to begin providing power via a second electrical connection; and

powering on a controller of the accessory from a second electrical connection at the accessory port once the first electrical connection is interconnected to a ground electrical connection at the accessory port.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a wireless signal at the accessory while the accessory is not being powered by the host device and while the first electronic switch is in the first state;

rectifying the wireless signal into a rectified signal at the accessory;

charging a power source of the accessory with the rectified signal; and

using power from the power source, changing the first electronic switch to the second state.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first electronic switch electrically interconnects the first electrical connection to a ground electrical connection at the accessory port when in the second state.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the wireless signal comprises receiving the wireless signal that is being provided by the host device.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a voltage from the controller to the first electronic switch, once the controller is powered on by the second electrical connection, to maintain the electrical interconnection between the first electrical connection and the ground electrical connection.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a voltage from the controller to a second electronic switch, once the controller is powered on by the second electrical connection, to interconnect the first electrical connection and the ground electrical connection by operation of the second electronic switch.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the accessory port is a universal serial bus with an on-the-go feature.

17. An accessory that triggers a host device with an accessory port to provide power to the accessory when coupled to the accessory port, comprising:

an antenna that receives a wireless signal provided by the host device;

a rectifier that rectifies the wireless signals into a rectified signal;

a power source that is charged by the rectified signal;

a first electrical connection that controls whether the host device provides power to the accessory;

a triggering electrical connection; and

a first electronic switch coupled to the power source, to the first electrical connection, and to the ground electrical connection, such that upon the power source being charged and providing a voltage to the electronic switch, the electronic switch electrically interconnects the first electrical connection to the triggering electrical connection to trigger the host device to begin providing power to the accessory.

18. The accessory of claim 17, further comprising:

a controller;

a second electrical connection that receives power through the accessory port when the first electrical connection is interconnected to the triggering electrical connection and that provides power to the controller.

19. The accessory of claim 18, wherein the controller provides a voltage to the first electronic switch, once the controller is powered on by the second electrical connection, to maintain the electrical interconnection between the first electrical connection and the triggering electrical connection.

20. The accessory of claim 18, further comprising a second electronic switch coupled to the controller, to the first electrical connection, and to the ground electrical connection, such that upon the controller provides a voltage to the second electronic switch once the controller is powered on by the second electrical connection to maintain the electrical interconnection between the first electrical connection and the triggering electrical connection.

21. The accessory of claim 17, wherein the triggering electrical connection is a ground connection.

22. A system, comprising:

an electronic host device that includes an accessory port having a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a triggering electrical contact;

an accessory that comprises;

a plug having a first electrical connection, a second electrical connection, and a triggering electrical connection, the first electrical connection being electrically coupled to the first electrical contact, the second electrical connection being electrically coupled to the second electrical contact, and the triggering electrical connection being electrically coupled to the triggering electrical contact;

an antenna that receives a wireless signal;

a rectifier that rectifies the wireless signals into a rectified signal;

a power source that is charged by the rectified signal;

a first electronic switch coupled to the power source, to the first electrical connection, and to the triggering electrical connection, such that upon the power source being charged and providing a voltage to the electronic switch, the electronic switch electrically interconnects the first electrical connection to the triggering electrical connection to trigger the electronic host device to begin providing power to the accessory via the second electrical connection.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the accessory further comprises a controller that receives power from the second electrical connection.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the controller provides a voltage to the first electronic switch, once the controller is powered on by the second electrical connection, to maintain the electrical interconnection between the first electrical connection and the triggering electrical connection.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the accessory further comprises a second electronic switch coupled to the controller, to the first electrical connection, and to the triggering electrical connection, such that the controller provides a voltage to the second electronic switch once the controller is powered on by the second electrical connection to maintain the electrical interconnection between the first electrical connection and the triggering electrical connection.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the triggering electrical contact is a ground contact.