Integrated circuit and method for monitoring and controlling power and for detecting open load state
First Claim
1. A method for identifying an open circuit state at an output port configured to provide power to an electrical device coupled to the output port, comprising:
- (1) storing a minimum open circuit current value of the output port in a memory device, the minimum open circuit current value being based on a hardware characteristic of the output port;
(2) measuring a current value at the output port for a selected number of times at selected time intervals;
(3) storing the measured current values in the memory device;
(4) selecting a subset of current values;
(5) calculating an average of the selected subset of the current values;
(6) comparing the average current value to the minimum open circuit current value; and
(7) identifying the open circuit state at the output port based on the comparison.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit and method for monitoring and controlling power and for identifying an open circuit state at an output port is disclosed. A circuit is implemented to determine whether an open circuit state exists based on a comparison of data received from the output port and attached loads. The data received from the output port and attached loads is compared to a minimum open circuit current value of the output port, wherein the minimum open circuit current value is based on the hardware characteristics of the output port and attached loads. A possible open circuit state at the output port is reported based on the comparison.
47 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for identifying an open circuit state at an output port configured to provide power to an electrical device coupled to the output port, comprising:
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(1) storing a minimum open circuit current value of the output port in a memory device, the minimum open circuit current value being based on a hardware characteristic of the output port; (2) measuring a current value at the output port for a selected number of times at selected time intervals; (3) storing the measured current values in the memory device; (4) selecting a subset of current values; (5) calculating an average of the selected subset of the current values; (6) comparing the average current value to the minimum open circuit current value; and (7) identifying the open circuit state at the output port based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for identifying an open circuit state at one of a plurality of output ports each configured to provide power to an electrical device, the method comprising:
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(1) determining a learned open circuit current value of the output port, the learned open circuit current value being based on a plurality of measured learn-phase load currents at the output port; (2) storing the learned open circuit current value in a memory device; (3) measuring a current value at the output port for a selected number of times at selected time intervals; (4) storing the measured current values in the memory device; (5) selecting, by a processor, a subset of the current values; (6) calculating, by the processor, an average of the selected subset of the current values; (7) comparing the average current value to the learned open circuit current value; and (8) identifying the open circuit state based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An integrated circuit device for monitoring and controlling an output port adapted to provide electrical power to a load, the integrated circuit device identifying an open circuit state at the output port, comprising:
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a memory; a processor electrically coupled to the memory, the processor configured to store data in, and receive data from, the memory; a switched power control circuit electrically coupled to the load, the switched power control circuit configured to control the electrical power delivered to the load by varying a duty cycle responsive to a power control signal received from the processor; a current sense circuit electrically coupled and configured to measure current flowing to the load and provide a current sense signal representative of the measured current to the processor, the current sense circuit further configured to provide an open circuit state signal to the processor when the measured current is less than a minimum open circuit current; and the processor configured to store data representative of the current sense signal in the memory, the processor further configured to provide the power control signal to the switched power control circuit responsive to the current sense signal, the processor further configured to report the open circuit state responsive to the open circuit signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A integrated circuit device for monitoring and controlling a plurality of output ports each adapted to provide electrical power to a respective load, the integrated circuit identifying an open circuit state at one of the output ports, comprising:
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a memory; a processor electrically coupled to the memory, the processor configured to store data in, and receive data from, the memory; a plurality of switched power control circuits each electrically coupled to a respective load, the switched power control circuit configured to control the electrical power delivered to the load by varying a duty cycle responsive to a power control signal from the processor; a plurality of current sense circuits each electrically coupled to a respective load, the current sense circuit configured to measure the current flowing through the load and provide a current sense signal representative of the measured current to the processor; and the processor configured to store data representative of the current sense signal in the memory, the processor further configured to provide the power control signal to the switched power control circuit responsive to the current sense signal, the processor including (a) a learn operating mode which calculates a learned open circuit current value at the output port based on a plurality of current sense signals during a learning stage, and (b) a monitoring mode which calculates an average current value at the output port based on a plurality of current sense signals during a steady state, the processor further configured to report an open circuit state at the output port responsive to a comparison of the average current value to the learned open circuit current value. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification