Smart powering and pairing system and related method

• US 10,797,489 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2019
• Issued: 10/06/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walley, John, Hulvey, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Mirza F
• Application Number:
  US16/278,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20190181649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1323, 3406362, 307 29, 307 31, 307 34, 307 38, 307104, 307126, 455573, 320103, 320107, 320108, 320137, 320124
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

According to one disclosed embodiment, a smart powering and pairing system includes a power conversion unit (PCU) having a communication module, a power management module and a pairing module. The PCU can convert mains power into a form that can be used to power a plurality of electronic devices. In one embodiment, the PCU can transparently pair a connected electronic device to a group of subsequently connected electronic devices by accepting pairing information from the connected electronic device and using it to pair the subsequently connected devices. In another embodiment, the PCU can transparently pair a group of connected electronic devices by applying generated security data to all the connected devices. In another embodiment, a power conversion unit can use security data to un-pair connected electronic devices.

Claims

1. A power management device, comprising:

processing circuitry configured to;

detect a power connection between the power management device and a first electronic device;

receive a power management parameter from the first electronic device;

regulate, according to the power management parameter, an output power characteristic of power provided to the first electronic device;

send a first identity information request to the first electronic device;

receive first information from the first electronic device, the first information including a first identifier that identifies the first electronic device and a target identifier that identifies another electronic device;

send a second identity information request to a second electronic device;

receive second information from the second electronic device, the second information including a second identifier that identifies the second electronic device;

determine whether the second identifier corresponds to the target identifier; and

in response to the second identifier corresponding to the target identifier, pair the first electronic device with the second electronic device.

2. The power management device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to provide the power via the power connection to the first electronic device.

3. The power management device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to detect a second power connection between the power management device and the second electronic device.

4. The power management device according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

provide a first power output to the first electronic device via the power connection; and

provide a second power output to the second electronic device via the second power connection, the second power output being different than the first power output.

5. The power management device according to claim 1, wherein the power connection is a wired connection.

6. The power management device according to claim 1, wherein the power connection is a wireless connection.

7. The power management device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to transmit an authentication key to both the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

8. The power management device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to retain the first identifier until a predetermined event occurs.

9. The power management device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to un-pair the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

10. The power management device according to claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry un-pairs the first electronic device and the second electronic device in response to a user input.

11. A power management system, comprising:

a first electronic device including first processing circuitry; and

a power management device including second processing circuitry that is configured to;

detect a power connection between the power management device and the first electronic device;

receive a power management parameter from the first electronic device;

regulate, according to the power management parameter, an output power characteristic of power provided to the first electronic device;

receive first information from the first electronic device, the first information including a first identifier that identifies the first electronic device and a target identifier that identifies another electronic device;

receive second information from a second electronic device, the second information including a second identifier that identifies the second electronic device;

determine whether the second identifier corresponds to the target identifier; and

in response to the second identifier corresponding to the target identifier, pair the first electronic device with the second electronic device.

12. The power management system according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to provide the power via the power connection to the first electronic device.

13. The power management system according to claim 11, wherein the second processing circuitry is further configured to detect a second power connection between the power management device and the second electronic device.

14. The power management system according to claim 13, wherein the second processing circuitry is further configured to:

provide a first power output to the first electronic device via the power connection; and

provide a second power output to the second electronic device via the second power connection, the second power output being different than the first power output.

15. The power management system according to claim 11, wherein the second processing circuitry is further configured to transmit an authentication key to both the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

16. A power management device, comprising:

processing circuitry configured to;

receive first information from a first electronic device, the first information including;

a first identifier that identifies the first electronic device,

a target identifier that identifies another electronic device, and

a power management parameter for regulating power output to the first electronic device;

provide power to the first electronic device and regulate, according to the power management parameter, an output characteristic of the power provided to the first electronic device;

receive second information from the second electronic device, the second information including a second identifier that identifies the second electronic device;

determine whether the second identifier corresponds to the target identifier; and

in response to the second identifier corresponding to the target identifier, pair the first electronic device with the second electronic device.

17. The power management device according to claim 16, wherein

the power provided to the first electronic device has a first power characteristic,

the processing circuitry is configured to provide power to the second electronic device having a second power characteristic that is different from the first power characteristic.