US5506490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for determining external power supply type
Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1993-11-09
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Granted: 1996-04-09
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Expires: 2013-11-09
Abstract
Abstract In summary, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining an external power supply type and modifying the charging of the internal battery (14) based upon the external power supply type and battery information. The device has an external power adapter (12) used to provide power to the device (10), as well as charging current for the battery which is regulated by the internal battery charger. A microcontroller (20) in the device (10) regulates the charging current to the battery (14). The microcontroller (20) preferably contains an A/D converter (21) which is connected to a pull-up resistor (32) internal to the device, and to a pull-down resistor (34) in the external power adapter (12). The voltage generated by the resistor divider network including the pull-up resistor (32) and the pull-down resistor (34) in the external power adapter is used to identify the external power adapter type. By changing the value of the pull-down resistor (34) in the external power supply to identify the external power supply, the microcontroller ( 20) in the apparatus may determine the optimum charging profile to use for the battery based upon the charger type and other information relating to the battery.
Inventors
- 👤 David M. DeMuro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:48
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/263; H02J7/60; H02J7/663; H02J7/667; H02J7/685; H02J7/865; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/6608; H01R13/6616; H01R31/00; H01R31/06; H01R31/065; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B40/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for identifying an external power adapter attached to an electronic device, said external power adapter for receiving a source of primary power and providing a power input to said electronic device, the apparatus comprising: a resistor network having a first resistor and a second resistor, said first resistor being disposed within said external power adapter and operatively coupled to said second resistor disposed within said device, said resistor network generating a sense voltage associated with said external power adapter; and a control circuit disposed within said electronic device adapted to receive said sense voltage to identify said external power adapter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for identifying an external power adapter attached to an electronic device, said external power adapter for receiving a source of primary power and providing a power input to said electronic device, the apparatus comprising: a resistor network having a first resistor and a second resistor, said first resistor being disposed within said external power adapter and operatively coupled to said second resistor disposed within said device, said resistor network generating a sense voltage associated with said external power adapter; and a control circuit disposed within said electronic device adapted to receive said sense voltage to identify said external power adapter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus for identifying an external power adapter according to claim 1 wherein said external power adapter is a regulated power adapter receiving said source of primary power from an alternating current line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus for identifying an external power adapter according to claim 1 wherein said external power adapter is a regulated power supply receiving said source of primary power from a direct current source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus for identifying an external power adapter according to claim 1 further including a battery integrally connected to said device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus for identifying an external power adapter according to claim 4 further including a battery charger disposed within said device for receiving a power input from said external power adapter to charge said battery.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus for identifying an external power adapter according to claim 5 further including a sense line from said battery providing a signal identifying the battery type of said battery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus for identifying an external power adapter according to claim 6 wherein said control circuit regulates said charger circuit to charge said battery based upon said external power adapter type and said battery type.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus comprising: an external power adapter adapted to receive a power input from a primary source of power; a portable device adapted to receive said power input from said external power adapter and generate a regulated voltage; a resistor network having a first resistor and a second resistor, said first resistor being disposed within said external power adapter and operatively coupled to said second resistor disposed within said portable device and coupled to said regulated voltage, said resistor network generating a sense voltage for identifying the type of said external power adapter; and a microcontroller disposed within said portable device adapted to receive said sense voltage identifying said type of said external power adapter.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus comprising: an external power adapter adapted to receive a power input from a primary source of power; a portable device adapted to receive said power input from said external power adapter and generate a regulated voltage; a resistor network having a first resistor and a second resistor, said first resistor being disposed within said external power adapter and operatively coupled to said second resistor disposed within said portable device and coupled to said regulated voltage, said resistor network generating a sense voltage for identifying the type of said external power adapter; and a microcontroller disposed within said portable device adapted to receive said sense voltage identifying said type of said external power adapter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said microcontroller further includes an analog to digital converter to convert said sense voltage to a digital signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 further including a battery integrally connected to said portable device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 further including a charger circuit disposed within said device, said charger circuit for receiving said power input from said external power adapter to charge said battery.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 further including a sense line from said battery providing a signal identifying the battery type of said battery.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said control circuit regulates said charger circuit to charge said battery based upon a charger type and said battery type.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for identifying an external power adapter coupled to a device, said method comprising the steps of: coupling a first resistive element positioned within the external power adapter to a second resistive element positioned within the device to create a resistor divider network; generate an external power adapter sense voltage based upon a reference voltage; and identify the external power adapter by the external power adapter sense voltage.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for identifying an external power adapter coupled to a device, said method comprising the steps of: coupling a first resistive element positioned within the external power adapter to a second resistive element positioned within the device to create a resistor divider network; generate an external power adapter sense voltage based upon a reference voltage; and identify the external power adapter by the external power adapter sense voltage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method for identifying an external power adapter according to claim 14 further including a step of recharging a battery based upon the identity of an external power adapter type.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
89 words
A portable electronic device for identifying a type of an external power adapter attached thereto for receiving a source of primary power and providing power input to said electronic device, the portable electronic device comprising: a resistor being disposed within said portable electronic device, said resistor corresponding to one of a plurality of components forming a network generating a sense voltage associated with said external power adapter; and a control circuit disposed within said portable electronic device adapted to receive said sense voltage to identify said external power adapter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
89 words
A portable electronic device for identifying a type of an external power adapter attached thereto for receiving a source of primary power and providing power input to said electronic device, the portable electronic device comprising: a resistor being disposed within said portable electronic device, said resistor corresponding to one of a plurality of components forming a network generating a sense voltage associated with said external power adapter; and a control circuit disposed within said portable electronic device adapted to receive said sense voltage to identify said external power adapter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The portable electronic device for identifying an external power adapter according to claim 16 further including a battery integrally connected to said portable electronic device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The portable electronic device for identifying an external power adapter according to claim 17 further including a battery charger disposed within said portable electronic device for receiving power from said external power adapter to charge said battery.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The portable electronic device for identifying an external power adapter according to claim 18 further including a sense line from said battery providing a signal identifying the type of said battery.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The portable electronic device for identifying an external power adapter according to claim 19 wherein said control circuit regulates said charger circuit to charge said battery based upon said external power adapter type and the type of said battery.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-09 | 1999-10-09 | 2000-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-09 | 2003-10-09 | 2004-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-09 | 2007-10-09 | 2008-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |