Power and data adapter, and related systems and methods

• US 9,904,323 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Targus International LLC
• Original Assignee: Targus International LLC
• Inventors: DeCamp, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Huang, Wen
• Application Number:
  US14/923,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20160231777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers

Abstract

Adapters and related systems and methods are disclosed. An adapter includes a power input, a data interface, and a universal non-proprietary data and power interface. The adapter is configured to relay communications between a portable electronic device communicatively coupled to the universal non-proprietary data and power interface and a docking station communicatively coupled to the data interface, and provide power to the electronic device through the universal non-proprietary data and power interface. A system includes the adapter. A method includes transmitting power to the portable electronic device through the universal non-proprietary data and power interface, and relaying data communications between the portable electronic device and the docking station through the universal non-proprietary data and power interface.

Claims

1. An adapter to receive electrical power and data from a docking station and provide the electrical power and data to a portable electronic device, the adapter comprising:

a power input comprising a first electrical connector and configured to receive electrical power from a first electrical connector of a docking station;

a data interface comprising a second electrical connector separate from the first electrical connector and configured to communicatively couple with a second electrical connector of the docking station;

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 portable electronic device, and 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; and

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

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

provide power to the portable electronic device through the universal non-proprietary data and power interface, wherein the power provided to the portable electronic device is derived from the electrical power received through the power input and not from the data interface.

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

3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the PD logic block is further configured to transmit a source capabilities signal to the portable electronic device through the universal non-proprietary data and power interface, the source capabilities signal indicating an amount of power that can be provided through the universal non-proprietary data and power interface.

4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry comprises a power delivery (PD) power conversion block communicatively coupled to the power input and configured to convert the electrical power received from the docking station to the power to be provided to the portable electronic device.

5. The adapter of claim 4, wherein the PD power conversion block is further configured to detect an amount of power available to be supplied by the docking station communicatively coupled to the power input.

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 universal non-proprietary data and power interface is configured to communicatively couple to a second portable electronic device of a different brand than the portable electronic device.

8. The adapter of claim 7, wherein the portable electronic device and the second portable electronic device are different types of devices.

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 from a first electrical connector of a docking station at a power interface comprising a first power interface;

receiving data from a second electrical connector of the docking station at a data interface comprising a second electrical connector separate from the first electrical connector, the data interface comprising an unpowered interface;

transmitting power to a single electrical connector of a portable electronic device through a universal non-proprietary data and power interface comprising a single electrical connector configured to operate according to a universal power communication standard, wherein the power transmitted to the single electrical connector is derived from the electrical power received from the first electrical connector of the docking station and not from the second electrical connector of the docking station; and

relaying data between the portable electronic device and the docking station through the single connector of the universal non-proprietary data and power interface, wherein the universal non-proprietary data and power interface is further configured to operate according to a universal data communication standard to enable bi-directional data communication.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting an amount of power that is available to be received at the power interface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting an amount of power that is available to be received at the power interface comprises testing the electrical power received at the power interface.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting an amount of power that is available to be received at the power interface comprises reading a circuit of a power source communicatively coupled to the power interface, the circuit configured to provide information about the amount of power that is available.

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

transmitting a source capabilities message to the portable electronic device, the source capabilities message indicating an amount of power that can be provided;

receiving a request message from the portable electronic device, the request message requesting a specific amount of power;

transmitting an accept message to the portable electronic device, the accept message acknowledging that the request message was received; and

transmitting a ready message to the portable electronic device, the ready message indicating that the power is ready to be supplied to the portable electronic device through the universal non-proprietary data and power interface.

15. An electrical system, comprising:

an adapter comprising;

a power input comprising a first electrical connector and configured to receive electrical power from a first electrical connector of a docking station;

a data interface comprising a second electrical connector separate from the first electrical connector and configured to receive data from a second electrical connector of the docking station;

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 portable electronic device and operate according to a universal data communication standard to enable bi-directional data communication and operate according to a universal power communication standard; 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 power delivery logic block configured to negotiate, with the portable electronic device, a power level of power to be delivered to the portable electronic device through the universal non-proprietary data and power interface; and

a PD power conversion block communicatively coupled to the power input, the PD logic block, and the universal non-proprietary data and power interface, the PD power conversion block configured to convert the electrical power to the power at the power level negotiated by the PD logic block and deliver the power to the portable electronic device through the universal non-proprietary data and power interface, wherein the power is converted from the electrical power and not from power received through the data interface.

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

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the docking station comprises:

a power output configured to communicatively couple to the power input of the adapter and deliver the electrical power to the power input; and

a docking data interface configured to communicatively couple to the data interface and communicate with the portable electronic device through the data interface and the universal non-proprietary data and power interface.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising the portable electronic device, wherein the portable electronic device includes an electronic device capable of receiving a data interface with power delivery.

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.