Smart power delivery system and related method

• US 9,153,995 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US12/987,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.1, 340/500, 340/540, 340/657, 340/7.33, 340/13.23, 340/572.1, 340/825.25, 340/636.2, 455/572, 455/574, 455/512, 455/522, 455/127.1, 455/343.1, 455/423, 455/573, 307 31- 41, 307/126, 307/311, 307/150, 307/66, 307/29, 307/104, 363/52, 363/44, 363/76, 363/13, 320/103, 320/107, 320/108, 320/137, 320/150, 320/119, 320/124, 320/134
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 a first electronic device;

the communication module and the PMM being configured to

receive a first control signal from the first electronic device, the first control signal including a safe operating voltage range of the first electronic device; and

modify a first output voltage of the PCU based on the safe operating voltage range of the first electronic device that is included in the first control signal,

wherein the power conduit provides the first output voltage to the first electronic device,

receive a second control signal from a second electronic device, the second control signal including a safe operating voltage range of the second electronic device, wherein

the PCU simultaneously provides a second output voltage to the second electronic device based on the safe operating voltage range of the second electronic device, wherein the first output voltage being different from the second output voltage, and the PMM is configured to negotiate current draw for allocation to the first electronic device and the second electronic device and

the PMM is configured to operate in a smart mode in which the PMM negotiates and applies a current partitioning method to the first electronic device and the second electronic device, the current partitioning method applied by the PMM includes at least one of first-come-first-served method, a programmed prioritization method, a quickest time to charge the first electronic device and the second electronic device method, and an equal current partitioning method.

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 small 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 first electronic device and receive a voltage parameter, the first output voltage provided to the first 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 the second electronic device, the PCU being configured to provide the second output 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 a first 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 first electronic device and the second electronic device and negotiate first and second voltage parameters, the first output voltage and the second output voltage provided respectively to the first 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;

receive a first control signal from a first electronic device, the first control signal including a safe operating voltage range of the first electronic device;

modify a first output voltage of the PCU based on the safe operating voltage range of the first electronic device that is included in the first control signal;

provide the first output voltage to the first electronic device, and

receive a second control signal from a second electronic device, the second control signal including a safe operating voltage range of the second electronic device, wherein

the PCU simultaneously provides a second output voltage to the second electronic device based on the safe operating voltage range of the second electronic device, wherein the first output voltage being different from the second output voltage, and the PMM is configured to negotiate current draw for allocation to the first electronic device and the second electronic device and

the PMM is configured to operate in a smart mode in which the PMM negotiates and applies a current partitioning method to the first electronic device and the second electronic device, the current partitioning method applied by the PMM includes at least one of first-come-first-served method, a programmed prioritization method, a quickest time to charge the first electronic device and the second electronic device method, and an equal current partitioning method.

11. The PCU of claim 10, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate with the first 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 first electronic device and receive a first voltage parameter, the first output voltage being modified to conform to the first voltage parameter.

13. The PCU of claim 12, wherein the first voltage parameter is a first output voltage level required by the first voltage parameter provided by the first electronic device.

14. The PCU of claim 12, wherein the first voltage parameter identifies a first output voltage accuracy required by the first electronic device.

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

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

17. A method for delivering power to a first electronic device and a second electronic device with a different power requirement, the method comprising:

detecting a connection between a power conversion unit (PCU) configured to draw power through a mains adapter and the first 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 first electronic device;

receiving over the communication link a first control signal from the first electronic device, the first control signal including a first safe operating voltage range of the first electronic device;

using the communication link to select an operating mode for the PMM, the operating mode configured to modify a first output voltage of the PCU based on the first safe operating voltage range that is included in the first control signal;

providing the first output voltage to the first electronic device;

receiving a second control signal from the second electronic device, the second control signal including a second safe operating voltage range of the second electronic device, the first safe operating voltage range and second safe operating voltage range being different ranges; and

simultaneously providing a second output voltage to the second electronic device and the PMM is configured to negotiate current draw for allocation to the first electronic device and the second electronic device and

operating the PMM in a Smart mode in which the PMM negotiates and applies a current partitioning method to the first electronic device and the second electronic device, the current partitioning method applied by the PMM includes at least one of first-come-first-served method, a programmed prioritization method, a quickest time to charge the first electronic device and the second electronic device method, and an equal current partitioning method.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the operating mode for the PMM is a safe mode when said attempting result in a failure to communicate with the first electronic device.

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