Smart Powering and Pairing System and Related Method

• US 20160006257A1
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walley, John, HULVEY, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/858,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20160006257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An electronic device, comprising:

circuitry configured to

establish a communication link with a power conversion unit (PCU);

transmit, via the communication link, first information to the PCU, the first information identifying the electronic device;

receive, via the communication link, second information from the PCU, the second information identifying a second electronic device; and

execute a pairing process by utilizing the second information to pair the electronic device with the second electronic device.

22. The electronic device according to claim 21, wherein

the circuitry is further configured to:

transmit, via the communication link, a power management parameter to the PCU; and

receive power from the PCU, and

the PCU provides the power to the electronic device according to the power management parameter.

23. The electronic device according to claim 22, wherein the circuitry receives the power from the PCU via a wired power conduit between the circuitry and the PCU.

24. The electronic device according to claim 22, wherein the circuitry receives the power from the PCU via a wireless power conduit between the circuitry and the PCU.

25. The electronic device according to claim 22, wherein the communication link is established over the wired power conduit.

26. The electronic device according to claim 21, wherein the communication link is a wireless communication link.

27. The electronic device according to claim 21, wherein the circuitry executes the pairing process to pair with the second electronic device by communicating with the second electronic device via the communication link with the PCU.

28. A pairing method, comprising:

establishing, by circuitry of a first electronic device, a communication link with a power conversion unit (PCU);

transmitting, by the circuitry via the communication link, first information to the PCU, the first information identifying the first electronic device;

receiving, by the circuitry via the communication link, second information from the PCU, the second information identifying a second electronic device; and

executing, by the circuitry utilizing the second information, a pairing process to pair the first electronic device with the second electronic device.

29. The pairing method according to claim 28, further comprising:

transmitting, by the circuitry via the communication link, a power management parameter to the PCU; and

receiving power, by the circuitry, from the PCU, wherein

the PCU provides the power to the first electronic device according to the power management parameter.

30. The pairing method according to claim 29, wherein the circuitry receives the power from the PCU via a wired power conduit between the circuitry and the PCU.

31. The pairing method according to claim 29, wherein the circuitry receives the power from the PCU via a wireless power conduit between the circuitry and the PCU.

32. The pairing method according to claim 29, wherein the communication link is established over the wired power conduit.

33. The pairing method according to claim 28, wherein the communication link is a wireless communication link.

34. The pairing method according to claim 28, wherein the circuitry executes the pairing process to pair with the second electronic device by communicating with the second electronic device via the communication link with the PCU.

35. A pairing system, comprising:

a power conversion unit (PCU); and

a first electronic device, the first electronic device including circuitry configured to

establish a communication link with the PCU;

transmit, via the communication link, first information to the PCU, the first information identifying the first electronic device;

receive, via the communication link, second information from the PCU, the second information identifying a second electronic device; and

execute a pairing process by utilizing the second information to pair the first electronic device with the second electronic device, wherein

the PCU is configured to

receive the second information from the second electronic device; and

transmit the second information to the first electronic device via the communication link.

36. The pairing system according to claim 35, wherein

the circuitry of the first electronic device is further configured to transmit, via the communication link, a power management parameter to the PCU, and

the PCU is further configured to provide power to the first electronic device according to the power management parameter.

37. The pairing system according to claim 36, wherein the circuitry of the first electronic device receives the power from the PCU via a wired power conduit between the circuitry and the PCU.

38. The pairing system according to claim 36, wherein the circuitry of the first electronic device receives the power from the PCU via a wireless power conduit between the circuitry and the PCU.

39. The pairing system according to claim 36, wherein the communication link is established over the wired power conduit.

40. The pairing system according to claim 35, wherein the communication link is a wireless communication link.