Smart Power Delivery System and Related Method

• US 20110181110A1
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walley, John, Hulvey, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,153,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• 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 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

According to one disclosed embodiment, a smart power delivery system includes a power conversion unit having a communication module and a power management module that can convert mains power into an optimized voltage and limited current used to power an electronic device. In one embodiment, a power conversion unit can optimize an output voltage by communicating with a connected electronic device and exchanging parameters representing desired characteristics of the output voltage. In one embodiment, an electronic device receives power from a power conversion unit through a wired power conduit. In another embodiment, an electronic device receives power from a power conversion unit through a wireless power conduit. In one embodiment, an optimal voltage is selected after negotiation between multiple electronic devices and a power conversion unit.

Claims

1. A smart power delivery system comprising:

a power conversion unit (PCU) configured to draw power through a mains adapter, the PCU including a communication module and a power management module (PMM);

a power conduit configured to connect the PCU to an electronic device;

the communication module and the PMM being configured to modify a voltage provided to the electronic device over the power conduit.

2. The smart power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the power conduit comprises a wired power connection.

3. The smart power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the power conduit comprises a wireless power connection.

4. The smart power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to form a communication channel over the power conduit.

5. The smart power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to form a wireless communication channel separate from the power conduit.

6. The smart power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the communication module and the PMM are configured to communicate with the electronic device and receive a voltage parameter, the voltage provided to the electronic device being modified to conform to the voltage parameter.

7. The smart power delivery system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second power conduit connecting the PCU to a second electronic device;

the communication module and the PMM being configured to modify the voltage provided to the electronic device over the power conduit and a second voltage provided to the second electronic device over the second power conduit.

8. The smart power delivery system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the power conduit and the second power conduit comprises a wireless power conduit.

9. The smart power delivery system of claim 7, wherein the communication module and the PMM are configured to communicate with the electronic device and the second electronic device and to negotiate first and second voltage parameters, the voltage and the second voltage provided respectively to the electronic device and the second electronic device being modified to conform to the respective first and second voltage parameters.

10. A power conversion unit (PCU) for use in a smart power delivery system, the PCU comprising:

a communication module;

a power management module (PMM);

the communication module and the PMM being configured to modify at least one voltage provided to at least one electronic device.

11. The PCU of claim 10, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate with the at least one electronic device over a wireless communication channel.

12. The PCU of claim 10, wherein the communication module and the PMM are configured to communicate with the at least one electronic device and receive at least one voltage parameter, the at least one voltage being modified to conform to the at least one voltage parameter.

13. The PCU of claim 12, wherein the at least one voltage parameter is an output voltage level desired by the at least one electronic device.

14. The PCU of claim 12, wherein the at least one voltage parameter is an output voltage accuracy desired by the at least one electronic device.

15. The PCU of claim 12, wherein the at least one voltage parameter is an output noise sensitivity of the at least one electronic device.

16. The PCU of claim 12, wherein the at least one voltage parameter is a tolerance for transients in an output voltage provided to the at least one electronic device.

17. A method for delivering power to an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting a connection between a power conversion unit (PCU) configured to draw power through a mains adapter and the electronic device, the PCU including a communication module and a power management module (PMM);

attempting to establish a communication link between the PCU and the electronic device;

using a result of the attempting to select an operating mode for the PMM, the operating mode configured to optimize a voltage provided to the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the result of the attempting comprises a failure to communicate with the electronic device, and where the operating mode for the PMM is a safe mode.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the result of the attempting comprises a communication of a voltage parameter from the electronic device, and where the voltage provided to the electronic device is modified to conform to the voltage parameter.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

detecting a second connection between the PCU and a second electronic device;

attempting to establish a second communication link between the PCU and the second electronic device;

using a result of the attempting to establish a second communication link to select a second operating mode for the PMM, the second operating mode configured to optimize the voltage provided to the electronic device and a second voltage provided to the second electronic device.