Power Adapter Capable of Communicating Digitally with Electronic Devices

• US 20080222431A1
• Filed: 01/03/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Green Plug, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Green Plug, Inc.
• Inventors: Yassaie, Hossein, Mody, Parag, Paniagua, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 8,261,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

A power adapter capable of communicating digitally with a device or a legacy adapter associated with a device is described. The power adapter includes an input port to receive power from a power source, a regulator to convert the received power from the power source, an output port configured to deliver power from the regulator to a device, and a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with a communication module associated with the device to determine the power requirements of the device. The regulator converts the power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the device. A related method of adapting power to a device is also described.

Claims

1. A power adapter to provide power to a device, comprising:

an input port to receive power from a power source;

a regulator to convert the received power from the power source;

an output port configured to deliver power from the regulator to the device; and

a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with a communication module associated with the device to determine power requirements of the device, wherein

the regulator converts the power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the device.

2. The power adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a switch coupled between the input port and the regulator that is controlled by the microprocessor.

3. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the device is a portable device.

4. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the power adapter is configurable to delay delivery of power to the device until an off-peak time.

5. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to operate in one of a plurality of operating modes and the regulator converts the power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the device and the operating mode of the device.

6. The power adapter according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of operating modes includes standby mode, charging mode, and fully operational mode.

7. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the power requirements include at least a voltage requirement and a current requirement.

8. The power adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface, wherein the user interface includes a display, an input device for providing entry of user input, and a control menu with one or more control functions.

9. The power adapter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power signal line to deliver power from the regulator to the output port;

a modulator/demodulator module coupled to the microprocessor and the power signal line to send and receive the digital communication of the microprocessor.

10. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the regulator is configured to deliver a predefined amount of power to the communication module associated with the device when the device is connected to the output port to allow the communication module associated with the device to communicate with the power adapter.

11. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein communicating digitally includes communicating in accordance with a packet layer protocol, which includes a payload segment.

12. The power adapter according to claim 11, wherein the packet layer protocol includes at least four message types.

13. The power adapter according to claim 12, wherein the messages types include three flow control message types and a power statement message type.

14. The power adapter according to claim 11, wherein the packet layer protocol includes a checksum to detect errors.

15. The power adapter according to claim 11, wherein the payload segment is encrypted.

16. The power adapter according to claim 11, wherein the payload segment includes proprietary information.

17. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein communicating digitally includes communicating in accordance with a packet layer protocol encapsulated by a Universal Serial Bus protocol.

18. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the power adapter receives a digital communication from the device, which includes a battery, the digital communication including one or more of the following:

device identification information, power requirements, proprietary information, operating mode, battery identification information, and battery condition information.

19. The power adapter according to claim 18, wherein the device includes a memory to record a number of times a battery has been charged or a total amount of time the battery has been charged based on the battery identification information.

20. The power adapter according to claim 18, further comprising:

a memory to record a number of times a battery has been charged or a total amount of time the battery has been charged based on the battery identification information.

21. The power adapter according to claim 18, further comprising:

a user interface to alert a user when the battery needs replacement based at least in part on one or more of the battery identification information and the battery condition information.

22. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the power adapter receives a digital communication from the device, which includes a battery, the digital communication including battery condition information, and the battery condition information includes one or more of:

number of times the battery has been charged, amount of time the battery has held a charge, length of time since last charge, and temperature of the battery.

23. The power adapter according to claim 22, further comprising:

a display to present one or more of;

the number of times the battery has been charged, the amount of time the battery has held a charge, the length of time since last charge, and the temperature of the battery.

24. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor includes a power control module to produce a power control signal to the regulator to control the regulator.

25. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor includes a communication module to communicate digitally with the communication module associated with the device to determine the power requirements of the device.

26. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor includes a temperature module to receive temperature information from a temperature sensor in the device or a temperature sensor in the power adapter.

27. The power adapter according to claim 1, wherein the power delivered to the device is DC.

28. The power adapter according to claim 1 further comprising a user interface, wherein the microprocessor is configured to control the user interface.

29. The power adapter according to claim 28, wherein the user interface includes a display.

30. The power adapter according to claim 29, wherein the display is one of a liquid crystal display, a LED display, or an OLED display.

31. The power adapter according to claim 28, wherein the user interface is configured to provide information regarding the power requirements of the device.

32. The power adapter according to claim 28, wherein the user interface is configured to display a state of the output port.

33. The power adapter according to claim 32, wherein the state includes a voltage level indicator.

34. The power adapter according to claim 28, wherein the user interface includes an input device for providing entry of user input.

35. The power adapter according to claim 34, wherein the input device includes at least one of a push button and a touch screen.

36. A method of adapting power to a device comprising:

receiving power from a power source at an input port;

communicating digitally with a communication module associated with the device to determine power requirements of the device,

converting the power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the device; and

delivering the converted power to a device through an output port.

37. A power adapter comprising:

an input port to receive power from a power source;

one or more regulators to convert power from the power source;

a plurality of output ports configured to deliver power from the one or more regulators to a plurality of devices; and

a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with a respective communication module associated with a respective device to determine power requirements of the respective device, wherein

one of the one or more regulators converts the power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the respective device.

38. The power adapter according to claim 37, further comprising a plurality of switches coupled between the input port and each of the one or more regulators.

39. The power adapter according to claim 38, wherein when activated, a respective switch of the plurality of switches prevents a respective regulator from being electrically connected to the input port.

40. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein one ore more of the plurality of devices is configured to operate in one of a plurality of operating modes and a respective regulator of the one or more regulators converts power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the respective device and the operating mode of the respective device.

41. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein the power adapter receives a digital communication from one or more of the plurality of devices, where at least one of the one or more of the plurality of devices includes a rechargeable battery, the digital communication including one or more of the following:

device identification information, power requirements, proprietary information, operating mode, battery identification information, and battery condition information.

42. The power adapter according to claim 41, further comprising a display to present at least a part of the battery condition information to a user.

43. The power adapter according to claim 41, further comprising a user interface to alert a user when the battery needs replacement based at least in part on one or more of the battery identification information and battery condition information.

44. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein the power adapter receives a digital communication from one or more of the plurality of devices, where at least one of the one or more of the plurality of devices includes a rechargeable battery, the digital communication including battery condition information, and the battery condition information includes one or more of:

number of times the battery has been charged, amount of time the battery has held a charge, length of time since last charge, and temperature of the battery

45. The power adapter according to claim 44, wherein the one or more of the plurality of devices includes a memory to record the number of times a battery has been charged or the total amount of time the battery has been charged based on battery identification information.

46. The power adapter according to claim 44, further comprising a memory to record the number of times a battery has been charged or the total amount of time the battery has been charged based on the battery identification information.

47. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein a voltage and a current delivered to a respective device is independent of voltages and currents delivered to each of the other devices.

48. The power adapter according to claims 37, wherein the power adapter delivers power according to one of a plurality of charge modes when the sum of the power requirements of each of the plurality of devices exceeds a pre-defined maximum.

49. The power adapter according to claim 48, wherein the charge modes include priority charging, where the plurality of devices are charged in order of a pre-programmed preference.

50. The power adapter according to claim 48, wherein the charge modes include reduced power charging, where the regulator delivers a reduced power to each of the plurality of devices, which is lower than the power requirements of each of the devices.

51. The power adapter according to claim 48, wherein the charge modes include round-robin charging, where the regulator delivers power to each of the plurality of devices one device at a time.

52. The power adapter according to claim 37, further comprising:

a plurality of power signal lines to deliver power from the one or more regulators to the plurality of output ports; and

one or more encoder/decoder modules coupled to the microprocessor and the plurality of power signal lines operable to send and receive the digital communication of the microprocessor.

53. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein the one or more regulators are configured to deliver a predefined amount of power to the communication module associated with the respective device when the respective device is connected to one of the output ports to allow the communication module associated with the respective device to communicate with the power adapter.

54. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein the microprocessor includes a power control module to produce one or more power control signals to the one or more regulators to control the one or more regulators.

55. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein the microprocessor includes a communication module to communicate digitally with the communication module associated with each of the plurality of devices to determine the power requirements of each of the plurality of devices.

56. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein the microprocessor includes a temperature module to receive temperature information from a temperature sensor in the device or a temperature sensor in the power adapter.

57. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein the microprocessor is configured to have information about the power adapter displayed on a display of the device.

58. The power adapter according to claim 37 further comprising a user interface, wherein the microprocessor is configured to control the user interface.

59. The power adapter according to 58, wherein the user interface includes a display.

60. The power adapter according to claim 59, wherein the display is one of a liquid crystal display, a LED display, or an OLED display.

61. The power adapter according to claim 58, wherein the user interface is configured to provide information regarding the power requirements of one or more of the plurality of devices.

62. The power adapter according to claim 58, wherein the user interface is configured to display a state of one or more of the plurality of output ports.

63. The power adapter according to claim 62, wherein the state includes a voltage level indicator.

64. The power adapter according to claim 58, wherein the user interface includes an input device for providing entry of user input.

65. The power adapter according to claim 64, wherein the input device includes at least one of a push button and a touch screen.

66. The power adapter according to claim 65, wherein the user input includes selection of control menus and control functions.

67. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein the power requirements include one or more of:

a voltage parameter, a current parameter, and a wattage parameter.

68. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein the power requirements include at least a voltage requirement and a current requirement.

69. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein the power delivered to the plurality of respective devices is DC.

70. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein one or more of the plurality of devices is a portable device.

71. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein the power adapter is configurable to delay delivery of power to one or more of the plurality of devices until an off-peak time.

72. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein the microprocessor is a microcontroller.

73. The power adapter according claim 37, further comprising a network communication module for communicating with a network.

74. The power adapter according to claim 37, wherein communicating digitally includes communicating in accordance with a packet layer protocol.

75. The power adapter according to claim 74, wherein the packet layer protocol includes at least four message types.

76. The power adapter according to claim 75, wherein the messages types include three flow control message types and a power statement message type.

77. The power adapter according to claim 74, wherein the packet layer protocol includes a checksum to detect errors.

78. The power adapter according to claim 74, wherein the packet layer protocol includes a payload segment.

79. The power adapter according to claim 78, wherein the payload segment is encrypted.

80. The power adapter according to claim 78, wherein the payload segment includes proprietary information.

81. The power adapter according to claim 79, wherein the payload segment includes proprietary information.

82. A method of adapting power to a plurality of devices comprising:

receiving power from a power source at an input port;

communicating digitally with a communication module associated with a respective device of the plurality of devices to determine the power requirements of the respective device,

converting power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the respective device; and

delivering the converted power to the respective device through one of a plurality of output ports.

83. A communication module for use with an electrical device, comprising:

a microprocessor, housed in the electrical device, configured to communicate digitally with an external power adapter to communicate power requirements of the electrical device to the power adapter through a port of the electrical device,

the power requirements including at least a voltage requirement and a current requirement.

84. The communication module of claim 83, wherein the power port of the electrical device is configured to receive a male USB plug.

85. The communication module of claim 83, wherein the microprocessor is configured to communicate digitally with a second microprocessor disposed in the power adapter to communicate the power requirements of the electrical device.

86. The communication module of claim 83, wherein the electrical device includes a rechargeable battery and the microprocessor communicates one or more of the following:

device identification information, power requirements, proprietary information, operating mode, battery identification information, and battery condition information.

87. The communication module of claim 83, wherein the electrical device includes a rechargeable battery and the microprocessor communicates battery identification information and battery condition information.

88. The communication module of claim 87, wherein the battery condition information includes one or more of:

number of times the battery has been charged, amount of time the battery has held a charge, length of time since last charge, and temperature of the battery.

89. The communication module of claim 83, wherein the electrical device is a portable device.

90. The communication module of claim 83, wherein the microprocessor is a microcontroller.

91. The communication module of claim 83, wherein communicating digitally includes communicating in accordance with a packet layer protocol.

92. The communication module of claim 91, wherein the packet layer protocol includes at least four message types.

93. The communication module of claim 92, wherein the messages types include three flow control message types and a power statement message type.

94. The communication module of claim 91, wherein the packet layer protocol includes a checksum to detect errors.

95. The communication module of claim 91, wherein the packet layer protocol includes a payload segment.

96. The communication module of claim 95, wherein the payload segment is encrypted.

97. The communication module of claim 95, wherein the payload segment includes proprietary information.

98. The communication module of claim 96, wherein the payload segment includes proprietary information.

99. A method of receiving power from an external power adapter external to an electrical device, comprising:

receiving an initial predefined voltage to facilitate communication between the external power adapter and the electrical device;

communicating digitally with the external power adapter to communicate power requirements of the electrical device to the external power adapter through a power port of the electrical device; and

receiving power supplied by the external power adapter based on the power requirements of the electrical device, wherein

the power requirements include a voltage requirement and a current requirement.