US6949916B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for controlling a point-of-load regulator
Assignee: Pwer Bridge LLC
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Filing: 2002-11-12
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Granted: 2005-09-27
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Expires: 2022-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A system and method is provided for using a serial bus to communicate (either passively or actively) with a point-of-load (“POL”) regulator. Specifically, a power supply controller (“controller”) communicates with at least one POL regulators by writing and/or reading data (either synchronously or asynchronous) over a unidirectional or bi-directional serial bus. In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller is adapted to write initial-configuration data (e.g., output voltage set-point, current limit set-point, etc.) to at least one POL regulator via the serial bus. At least a portion of the initial-configuration data is then used by the POL regulator to produce a particular output. In another embodiment of the invention, each POL regulator includes at least one register for maintaining POL information, such as unique identification information, fault protection information, output voltage set-point data, current limit set-point data, etc. The controller is then adapted to monitor and retrieve this information (i.e., fault-monitoring data) via the serial bus while the POL regulators are operating.
Inventors
- 👤 Alain Chapuis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:01
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J1/00; H02J1/08; H02J13/00; H02J13/12; H02J1/10; H02J13/13; H02J13/1321; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y04; Y04S; Y04S10/00; Y04S10/30; Y04S20/00; Y04S40/00; Y04S40/12; Y04S40/124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A power control system comprising: a plurality of point-of-load regulators providing corresponding regulated output voltages; and a bi-directional, serial data bus connected to each of said plurality of point-of-load regulators to permit communication of control and monitoring data therebetween, each one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators being adapted to initiate a communication cycle by providing a synchronizing signal onto said serial data bus followed by a multi-bit data message that includes at least one of an address set, a command set, and a data set.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A power control system comprising: a plurality of point-of-load regulators providing corresponding regulated output voltages; and a bi-directional, serial data bus connected to each of said plurality of point-of-load regulators to permit communication of control and monitoring data therebetween, each one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators being adapted to initiate a communication cycle by providing a synchronizing signal onto said serial data bus followed by a multi-bit data message that includes at least one of an address set, a command set, and a data set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The power control system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller connected to said serial data bus, said controller also being adapted to initiate a communication cycle by providing a synchronizing signal onto said serial data bus followed by a multi-bit data message that includes at least one of an address set, a command set, and a data set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The power control system of claim 2 , wherein said controller further comprises a point-of-load regulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The power control system of claim 1 , wherein each one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators includes at least one register adapted to store at least one of output voltage set-point data, output current set-point data, and fault protection data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The power control system of claim 1 , wherein said synchronizing signal further comprises a clock pulse that pulls said serial data bus to a low state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The power control system of claim 1 , wherein said address set further comprises plural data bits identifying one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators to which control data is being written.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The power control system of claim 1 , wherein said address set further comprises plural data bits identifying one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators that initiates the communication cycle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The power control system of claim 1 , wherein said command set further comprises plural data bits defining a desired function to be performed by one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The power control system of claim 1 , wherein said data set further comprises plural data bits defining data to be written to or read from one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The power control system of claim 9 , wherein said data set includes at least one of output voltage set-point data, output current set-point data, and fault protection data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The power control system of claim 9 , wherein said data set includes initial configuration data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power control system of claim 1 , wherein said serial data bus further comprises a single wire data bus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The power control system of claim 1 , wherein said serial data bus further comprises a two wire data bus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
A point-of-load regulator having a serial data interface adapted to communicate control and monitoring data with other like point-of-load regulators via a serial data bus, said point-of-load regulator initiating a communication cycle by providing a synchronizing signal through said serial data interface followed by a multi-bit data message that includes at least one of an address set, a command set, and a data set.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
A point-of-load regulator having a serial data interface adapted to communicate control and monitoring data with other like point-of-load regulators via a serial data bus, said point-of-load regulator initiating a communication cycle by providing a synchronizing signal through said serial data interface followed by a multi-bit data message that includes at least one of an address set, a command set, and a data set.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The point-of-load regulator of claim 14 , further comprising at least one register adapted to store at least one of output voltage set-point data, output current set-point data, and fault protection data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The point-of-load regulator of claim 14 , wherein said synchronizing signal further comprises a clock pulse that pulls said serial data bus to a low state.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The point-of-load regulator of claim 14 , wherein said address set further comprises plural data bits identifying another point-of-load regulator to which control data is being written.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The point-of-load regulator of claim 14 , wherein said address set further comprises plural data bits identifying said point-of-load regulator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The point-of-load regulator of claim 14 , wherein said command set further comprises plural data bits defining a desired function to be performed by another point-of-load regulator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The point-of-load regulator of claim 14 , wherein said data set further comprises plural data bits defining data to be written to or read from said point-of-load regulator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The point-of-load regulator of claim 14 , wherein said data set includes at least one of output voltage set-point data, output current set-point data, and fault protection data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The point-of-load regulator of claim 14 , wherein said data set includes initial configuration data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-09-26 | 2009-03-28 | 2009-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-09-26 | 2013-03-28 | 2013-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-09-26 | 2017-03-28 | 2017-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |