Power supply capable of receiving digital communications from electronic devices

Abstract

A power supply capable of receiving digital communications from an electrical device is described. The power supply includes a microprocessor and instructions, configured for execution by the microprocessor, to receive a digital communication from a device to be powered by the power supply. A method of supplying power is also described. The method includes receiving a digital communication from a device and supplying power to the device based on the digital communication.

1 - 53 . (canceled) 
   
   
       54 . A power supply comprising:
 an input port to receive power from a power source;   a regulator to convert the received power from the power source;   an output port configured to supply power from the regulator to a device; and   a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with the device to determine power requirements of the device, wherein the regulator converts the power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the device.   
   
   
       55 . The power supply according to  claim 54 , wherein the power requirements include charging requirements for a battery disposed in the device. 
   
   
       56 . The power supply according to  claim 54 , wherein the power requirements include one or more of: voltage, current, and wattage values. 
   
   
       57 . The power supply according to  claim 54 , wherein the power requirements include at least a voltage value and a current value. 
   
   
       58 . The power supply according to  claim 54 , wherein the power delivered to the device is DC. 
   
   
       59 . The power supply according to  claim 54 , wherein the power received from the power source is AC. 
   
   
       60 . The power supply according to  claim 54 , wherein the power received from the power source is DC. 
   
   
       61 . The power supply according to  claim 54 , wherein the power supply receives a communication from the device that includes one or more of the following: power requirements, proprietary information, and a battery ID of a battery disposed in the device. 
   
   
       62 . The power supply according to  claim 54 , wherein the regulator is configured to deliver a predefined amount of power to the device when the device is coupled to the output port to allow the power supply to communicate with the device. 
   
   
       63 . The power supply according to  claim 54 , wherein communicating digitally includes using a packet layer protocol. 
   
   
       64 . The power supply according to  claim 63 , wherein the packet layer protocol includes at least four message types. 
   
   
       65 . The power supply according to  claim 64 , wherein the messages types include three flow control message types and a power statement message type. 
   
   
       66 . The power supply according to  claim 63 , wherein the packet layer protocol includes a checksum. 
   
   
       67 . The power supply according to  claim 63 , wherein the packet layer protocol includes a payload segment. 
   
   
       68 . The power supply according to  claim 67 , wherein the payload segment includes proprietary information. 
   
   
       69 . The power supply according to  claim 67 , wherein the payload segment includes a client condition code segment. 
   
   
       70 . The power supply according to  claim 67 , wherein the payload segment includes a voltage segment. 
   
   
       71 . The power supply according to  claim 67 , wherein the payload segment includes a charger segment. 
   
   
       72 . The power supply according to  claim 67 , wherein the payload segment includes a power value segment. 
   
   
       73 . The power supply according to  claim 54 , wherein the microprocessor provides a power control signal to control the regulator. 
   
   
       74 . A method of supplying power to a device comprising the steps of:
 receiving power from a power source;   receiving a digital communication from the device;   determining the power requirements of the device in accordance with the digital communication;   converting the power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the device; and   supplying power to the device based at least in part on the power requirements of the device.   
   
   
       75 . The method of supplying power according to  claim 74 , wherein the digital communication includes the power requirements of the device. 
   
   
       76 . A power supply comprising:
 an input port to receive power from a power source;   one or more regulators to convert power from the power source;   a plurality of output ports configured to supply power from the one or more regulators to a plurality of devices; and   a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with a respective device of the plurality of devices to determine the power requirements of the respective device, wherein one of the one or more regulators converts power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the respective device.   
   
   
       77 . The power supply according to  claim 76 , wherein the power requirements include charging requirements for a battery disposed in the respective device. 
   
   
       78 . The power supply according to  claim 76 , wherein the power requirements include one or more of: voltage, current, and wattage values. 
   
   
       79 . The power supply according to  claim 76 , wherein the power requirements include at least a voltage value and a current value. 
   
   
       80 . The power supply according to  claim 76 , wherein the power delivered to the plurality of respective devices is DC. 
   
   
       81 . The power supply according to  claim 76 , wherein the power supply receives a communication from the respective device that includes one or more of the following: power requirements, proprietary information, and a battery ID of a battery disposed in the respective device. 
   
   
       82 . The power supply according to  claim 76 , wherein a voltage and a current of a respective device is independent of voltages and currents delivered to each of the other devices. 
   
   
       83 . The power supply according to  claim 76 , wherein the microprocessor is a microcontroller. 
   
   
       84 . The power supply according to  claim 76 , wherein the one or more regulators delivers a predefined voltage to the respective device when the respective device is connected to one of the output ports to allow the power supply to communicate with the respective device. 
   
   
       85 . The power supply according to  claim 76 , wherein communicating digitally includes using a packet layer protocol. 
   
   
       86 . The power supply according to  claim 85 , wherein the packet layer protocol includes at least four message types. 
   
   
       87 . The power supply according to  claim 86 , wherein the messages types include three flow control message types and a power statement message type. 
   
   
       88 . The power supply according to  claim 85 , wherein the packet layer protocol includes a checksum. 
   
   
       89 . The power supply according to  claim 85 , wherein the packet layer protocol includes a payload segment. 
   
   
       90 . The power supply according to  claim 89 , wherein the payload segment includes proprietary information. 
   
   
       91 . The power supply according to  claim 89 , wherein the payload segment includes a client condition code segment. 
   
   
       92 . The power supply according to  claim 89 , wherein the payload segment includes a voltage segment. 
   
   
       93 . The power supply according to  claim 89 , wherein the payload segment includes a charger segment. 
   
   
       94 . The power supply according to  claim 89 , wherein the payload segment includes a power value segment. 
   
   
       95 . The power supply according to  claim 76 , wherein the microprocessor produces a power control signal to the one or more regulators to control the one or more regulators. 
   
   
       96 . A method of supplying power to a plurality of devices comprising the steps of: receiving power from a power source; receiving a digital communication from a respective device of the plurality of devices; determining the power requirements of the respective device in accordance with the digital communication; converting the power from the power source in accordance with the power requirements of the respective device; and supplying power to the respective device based at least in part on the the power requirements of the respective device. 
   
   
       97 . The method of supplying power according to  claim 96 , wherein the supplying is based exclusively on the determined power requirements. 
   
   
       98 . A device comprising: a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with a power supply to communicate power requirements of the device to the power supply; the power supply being external to the device; and the power requirements including at least voltage and current values. 
   
   
       99 . The device of  claim 98 , wherein the power requirements include a wattage value. 
   
   
       100 . The device of  claim 98  further comprising a rechargeable battery. 
   
   
       101 . The device of  claim 100 , wherein the microprocessor communicates one or more of the following: power requirements of the device, proprietary information, and battery ID. 
   
   
       102 . The device of  claim 98 , wherein the microprocessor is a microcontroller. 
   
   
       103 . The device of  claim 98 , wherein communicating digitally includes using a packet layer protocol. 
   
   
       104 . The device according to  claim 103 , wherein the packet layer protocol includes at least four message types. 
   
   
       105 . The device according to  claim 104 , wherein the messages types include three flow control message types and a power statement message type. 
   
   
       106 . The device according to  claim 103 , wherein the packet layer protocol includes a checksum. 
   
   
       107 . The device according to  claim 103 , wherein the packet layer protocol includes a payload segment. 
   
   
       108 . The device according to  claim 107 , wherein the payload segment includes proprietary information. 
   
   
       109 . The device according to  claim 107 , wherein the payload segment includes a client condition code segment. 
   
   
       110 . The device according to  claim 107 , wherein the payload segment includes a voltage segment. 
   
   
       111 . The device according to  claim 107 , wherein the payload segment includes a charger segment. 
   
   
       112 . The device according to  claim 107 , wherein the payload segment includes a power value segment. 
   
   
       113 . A method of receiving power from an external power supply external to a device comprising the steps of: receiving an initial predetermined voltage sufficient to enable communication between the external power supply and the device; transmitting a digital communication to the external power supply to communicate power requirements of the device to the external power supply; and receiving power supplied by the external power supply based on the power requirements of the device, wherein the power requirements include at least a voltage value and a current value. 
   
   
       114 . The method of  claim 113 , wherein the power requirements include a wattage value.