Power and data adapter

• US 9,900,420 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Targus International LLC
• Original Assignee: Targus International LLC
• Inventors: DeCamp, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Talukder, MD
• Application Number:
  US14/970,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20160173678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 455557, 455 411, 455 412, 455 413
• 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: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

Adapters, electrical systems, and related methods are disclosed. An adapter includes a universal non-proprietary data and power interface configured to communicatively couple with a docking station, a power output configured to operably couple to a portable communication device, a data interface separate from the power output and configured to communicatively couple with the portable electronic device, and control circuitry. A method includes receiving electrical power and data form a docking station at a universal non-proprietary data and power interface, transmitting power to a portable electronic device through a power output, and relaying data between the portable electronic device and the docking station through a data interface separate from the power output. An electrical system includes an adapter.

Claims

1. An adapter, comprising:

a universal non-proprietary data and power interface comprising a single electrical connector and configured to communicatively couple with a single electrical connector of a docking station and configured to receive power provided by the docking station through the single docking connector, the universal non-proprietary data and power interface configured to operate according to a universal data communication standard to enable bi-directional data communication and further configured to operate according to a universal power communication standard;

a power output comprising a first electrical connector and configured to operably couple to a first electrical connector of a portable electronic device;

a data interface comprising a second electrical connector separate from the first electrical connector of the power output and configured to communicatively couple with a second electrical connector of the portable electronic device; and

control circuitry in communication with the universal non-proprietary data and power interface, the power output, and the data interface, the control circuitry configured to;

relay data communications between the docking station and the portable electronic device through the universal non-proprietary data and power interface and the data interface; and

provide electrical power to the portable electronic device through the power output, the electrical power derived from the power provided by the docking station;

wherein the single electrical connector of the universal non-proprietary data and power interface connects the adapter to the docking station and multiple connectors comprising the first electrical connector of the power output and the second electrical connector of the data interface connect the adapter to the portable electronic device.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry comprises a power delivery (PD) voltage decision and output block communicatively coupled to the universal non-proprietary data and power interface and configured to convert power from the universal non-proprietary data and power interface to the electrical power.

3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the PD voltage decision and output block is further configured to detect an amount of power available to be supplied by the docking station communicatively coupled to the universal non-proprietary data and power interface.

4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry comprises a power delivery (PD) logic block communicatively coupled to the data interface and configured to negotiate, through the data interface, with the portable electronic device to determine a proper converted power to provide to the portable electronic device through the power output.

5. The adapter of claim 4, wherein the PD logic block is further configured to receive a source capabilities signal from the docking station through the universal non-proprietary data and power interface, the source capabilities signal indicating an amount of power that can be provided by the docking station.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to pass the data communications between the docking station and the portable electronic device transparently.

7. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the data interface and the power output are configured to communicatively couple to a second portable electronic device of a different brand than the portable electronic device.

8. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the data interface and the power output are configured to communicatively couple to a second portable electronic device of a different type than the portable electronic device.

9. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the portable electronic device and the second portable electronic device comprise two of a laptop, a tablet, a phablet, and a smartphone.

10. A method of providing a universal non-proprietary data and power interface, the method comprising:

receiving electrical power and data from a single electrical connector of a docking station at a universal non-proprietary data and power interface comprising a single electrical connector and configured to operate according to a universal power standard and a universal data communication standard to enable bi-directional data communication;

transmitting power to a first electrical connector of a portable electronic device through a power output comprising a first electrical connector; and

relaying data between a second electrical connector of the portable electronic device and the docking station through a data interface comprising a second electrical connector separate from the first electrical connector of the power output;

wherein the single electrical connector of the universal non-proprietary data and power interface connects to the docking station and multiple connectors comprising the first electrical connector of the power output and the second electrical connector of the data interface connect the adapter to the portable electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising indicating, through the data interface, an amount of power that is available to be supplied to the portable electronic device through the power output.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein indicating an amount of power that is available to be supplied through the power output comprises indicating the amount of power available using one of an analog circuit and a digital circuit that indicates the amount of power available.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein indicating the amount of power available using one of an analog circuit and a digital circuit comprises indicating the amount of power available with a power supply identification (PSID) chip.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting power to a portable electronic device comprises:

receiving a source capabilities signal from the docking station, the source capabilities message indicating an amount of power that can be provided by the docking station;

transmitting a request message to the docking station, the request message requesting a specific amount of power;

receiving an accept message acknowledging the request message; and

receiving a message from the docking station signaling that the docking station is ready to provide the negotiated power.

15. An electrical system, comprising:

an adapter comprising;

a universal non-proprietary data and power interface comprising a single electrical connector and configured to receive electrical power from a docking station and enable bi-directional data communication between the docking station and a portable electronic device, the universal data and power interface configured to operate according to a universal data communication standard to enable the bi-directional data communication and further configured to operate according to a universal power communication standard;

a data interface comprising a first electrical connector and configured to communicatively couple to a first electrical connector of the portable electronic device and transmit and receive data from and to the portable electronic device;

a power output comprising a second electrical connector separate from the first connector of the data interface and configured to communicatively couple with the portable electronic device; and

control circuitry comprising;

a power delivery (PD) logic block communicatively coupled to the data interface and the universal non-proprietary data and power interface, the PD logic block configured to negotiate, with the docking station, a power level of power to receive from the docking station through the universal non-proprietary data and power interface; and

a PD voltage decision and output block communicatively coupled to the power output, the PD logic block, and the universal non-proprietary data and power interface, the PD power conversion block configured to deliver the electrical power to the portable electronic device through the power output at the power level negotiated by the PD logic block

wherein the single electrical connector of the universal non-proprietary data and power interface connects to the docking station and multiple connectors comprising the first electrical connector of the data interface and the second electrical connector of the power output connect the adapter to the portable electronic device.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising the docking station.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the docking station comprises another universal non-proprietary data and power interface configured to communicatively couple to the universal non-proprietary data and power interface of the adapter and deliver the electrical power to the portable electronic device therethrough, and communicate with the portable electronic device therethrough.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising the portable electronic device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic device comprises a laptop computer.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to pass the data communications between the docking station and the portable electronic device transparently.