Power adapter featuring multiple power outputs

Abstract

A power adapter having multiple power outputs is provided. In a first embodiment, in response to an IHS being coupled to a power output included by the multiple power outputs, an amount of power that is supplied to the power output is determined. In a second embodiment, in response to an IHS being decoupled from a first power output included by the multiple power outputs, an amount of power that is supplied to a second power output included by the multiple power outputs is determined.

1 . A method performed by a power adapter having multiple power outputs, the method comprising: 
 in response to an information handling system (“IHS”) being coupled to a power output included by the multiple power outputs, determining an amount of power that is supplied to the power output.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the amount of power is in response to number of IHSs that are coupled to the power adapter.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the amount of power includes: 
 receiving the IHS' power requirement; and    determining whether the power adapter has sufficient available capacity to supply power according to the IHS' power requirement.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the amount of power further includes: 
 in response to determining that the power adapter does not have sufficient available capacity, determining whether the power adapter is capable of increasing the power adapter's available capacity.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the power output is a first power output and determining whether the power adapter is capable of increasing the power adapter's available capacity includes: 
 determining whether the power adapter is capable of reducing power supplied to a second power output included by the multiple power outputs.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the power adapter includes a network interface.  
   
   
       7 . A method performed by a power adapter having multiple power outputs, the method comprising: 
 in response to an IHS being decoupled from a first power output included by the multiple power outputs, determining an amount of power that is supplied to a second power output included by the multiple power outputs.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the IHS is a fist IHS and determining the amount of power that is supplied to the second power output includes: 
 determining whether a second IHS, coupled to the second power output, is capable of receiving more power from the power adapter's increased available capacity.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining whether the second IHS is capable of receiving more power includes: 
 determining whether the second IHS is currently receiving less than a preferred amount of power.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining whether the second IHS is capable of receiving more power further includes: 
 in response to determining that the second IHS is currently receiving less than a preferred amount of power, determining whether the power adapter's increased available capacity is sufficient to supply the IHS with the preferred amount of power.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the preferred amount of power is indicated by the second IHS' optimum power requirement.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein less than the preferred amount of power is indicated by the second IHS' minimum power requirement.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the power adapter includes a network interface.  
   
   
       14 . A power adapter comprising: 
 multiple power outputs; and    a controller circuit for: 
 in response to an information handling system (“IHS”) being coupled to a power output included by the multiple power outputs, determining an amount of power that is supplied to the power output.  
   
   
   
       15 . The power adapter of  claim 14 , wherein determining the amount of power is in response to number of IHSs that are coupled to the power adapter.  
   
   
       16 . The power adapter of  claim 14 , wherein determining the amount of power includes: 
 receiving the IHS' power requirement; and    determining whether the power adapter has sufficient available capacity to supply power according to the IHS' power requirement.    
   
   
       17 . The power adapter of  claim 16 , wherein determining the amount of power further includes: 
 in response to determining that the power adapter does not have sufficient available capacity, determining whether the power adapter is capable of increasing the power adapter's available capacity.    
   
   
       18 . The power adapter of  claim 17 , wherein the power output is a first power output and determining whether the power adapter is capable of increasing the power adapter's available capacity includes: 
 determining whether the power adapter is capable of reducing power supplied to a second power output included by the multiple power outputs.    
   
   
       19 . The power adapter of  claim 14 , and comprising: 
 a network interface.    
   
   
       20 . A power adapter comprising: 
 multiple power outputs; and    a controller circuit for: 
 in response to an IHS being decoupled from a first power output included by the multiple power outputs, determining an amount of power that is supplied to a second power output included by the multiple power outputs.  
   
   
   
       21 . The power adapter of  claim 20 , wherein the IHS is a fist IHS and determining the amount of power that is supplied to the second power output includes: 
 determining whether a second IHS, coupled to the second power output, is capable of receiving more power from the power adapter's increased available capacity.    
   
   
       22 . The power adapter of  claim 21 , wherein determining whether the second IHS is capable of receiving more power includes: 
 determining whether the second IHS is currently receiving less than a preferred amount of power.    
   
   
       23 . The power adapter of  claim 22 , wherein determining whether the second IHS is capable of receiving more power further includes: 
 in response to determining that the second IHS is currently receiving less than a preferred amount of power, determining whether the power adapter's increased available capacity is sufficient to supply the IHS with the preferred amount of power.    
   
   
       24 . The power adapter of  claim 22 , wherein the preferred amount of power is indicated by the second IHS' optimum power requirement.  
   
   
       25 . The power adapter of  claim 22 , wherein less than the preferred amount of power is indicated by the second IHS' minimum power requirement.  
   
   
       26 . The power adapter of  claim 20 , and comprising: 
 a network interface.