Circuit for indicating power level over a communication interface

Abstract

A circuit is provided. The circuit includes a control circuit and a voltage sensor coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit, responsive to the voltage sensor, is configured to detect a first classification voltage within a classification voltage range defined by a lower classification voltage limit and upper classification voltage limit, detect, after detecting the first classification voltage, an indexing voltage outside of the classification voltage range, and detect, after detecting the indexing voltage, a second classification voltage within the classification voltage range. The control circuit is further configured to set an indicator signal to a first predetermined state indicating a power type based on the detected first classification voltage, indexing voltage and second classification voltage.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A circuit, comprising:
 a control circuit; and   a voltage sensor coupled to the control circuit;   wherein the control circuit, responsive to the voltage sensor, is configured to:
 detect a first classification voltage within a classification voltage range defined by a lower classification voltage limit and upper classification voltage limit; 
 detect, after detecting the first classification voltage, an indexing voltage outside of the classification voltage range; and 
 detect, after detecting the indexing voltage, a second classification voltage within the classification voltage range, wherein the control circuit is further configured to set an indicator signal to a first predetermined state indicating a power type based on the detected first classification voltage, indexing voltage and second classification voltage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined state indicates a high power type. 
     
     
         3 . The circuit of  claim 1 , wherein after the control circuit detects the second classification voltage, the control circuit is further configured to:
 detect a signature voltage below the classification voltage range and set the indicator signal to the first predetermined state in response to the detected signature voltage.   
     
     
         4 . The circuit of  claim 3 , wherein in the event that the control circuit does not detect the signature voltage, the control circuit is further configured to:
 set the indicator signal to a second predetermined state indicating a low power type.   
     
     
         5 . The circuit of  claim 1 , wherein in the event that the control circuit detects the first classification voltage and does not detect the indexing voltage, the control circuit is further configured to:
 set the indicator signal to a second predetermined state indicating a low power type.   
     
     
         6 . The circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one current source coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the at least one current source to provide a first predetermined classification current responsive to the detected first classification voltage and a second predetermined classification current responsive to the detected second classification voltage.   
     
     
         7 . The circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one current source responsive to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the at least one current source to:
 provide a first predetermined classification current responsive to the detected first classification voltage, wherein the first predetermined classification current exceeds a default classification value limit; 
 provide a draw down current responsive to the detected indexing voltage; and 
 provide a second predetermined classification current exceeding a default classification value limit responsive to the detected second classification voltage. 
   
     
     
         8 . The circuit of  claim 7 , wherein the draw down current is of a value greater than the default classification value limit. 
     
     
         9 . A circuit, comprising:
 a control circuit;   a voltage sensor coupled to the control circuit; and   a current source coupled to the control circuit;   wherein the control circuit, responsive to the voltage sensor, is configured to:
 detect a first classification voltage within a classification voltage range defined by a lower classification voltage limit and upper classification voltage limit; 
 generate a first classification current, by the current source, in response to detecting the first classification voltage; 
 determine if an indexing voltage is detected, wherein the indexing voltage is outside of the classification voltage range;
 if the indexing voltage is not detected, then set an indicator signal to a low power state based on an operating voltage; and 
 if the indexing voltage is detected, then:
 detect a second classification voltage within the classification voltage range, and 
 generate a second classification current, by the current source, in response to detecting the second classification voltage. 
 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The circuit of  claim 9 , wherein after the control circuit is configured to generate the second classification current by the current source, the control circuit is further configured to:
 change the second classification current, by the current source, to a different current than a default classification limit.   
     
     
         11 . The circuit of  claim 10 , wherein after the control circuit is configured to change the second classification current by the current source, the control circuit is further configured to:
 detect a signature voltage, wherein:
 if the signature voltage is not detected, then set an indicator signal to a low power state based on an operating voltage; and 
 if the signature voltage is detected, then wait for an operating voltage to be detected. 
   
     
     
         12 . The circuit of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to set the indicator signal to the low power state based on the operating voltage comprises the control circuit is configured to:
 wait for the voltage sensor to detect the operating voltage; and   set the indicator signal to the state indicating the low power state.   
     
     
         13 . The circuit of  claim 12 , wherein the control circuit is configured to closing a switch to a load after one of the control circuit is configured to detect the operating voltage and the control circuit is configured to set the indicator signal to the low power state based on the operating voltage. 
     
     
         14 . The circuit of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 at least one current source coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the at least one current source to provide a first predetermined classification current responsive to the detected first classification voltage and a second predetermined classification current responsive to the detected second classification voltage.   
     
     
         15 . An Ethernet device, comprising:
 a control circuit; and   a voltage sensor coupled to the control circuit;   wherein the control circuit, responsive to the voltage sensor, is configured to:
 detect a first classification voltage within a classification voltage range defined by a lower classification voltage limit and upper classification voltage limit; 
 detect, after detecting the first classification voltage, an indexing voltage outside of the classification voltage range; and 
 detect, after detecting the indexing voltage, a second classification voltage within the classification voltage range, wherein the control circuit is further configured to set an indicator signal to a first predetermined state indicating a power type based on the detected first classification voltage, indexing voltage and second classification voltage. 
   
     
     
         16 . The Ethernet device of  claim 15 , wherein the first predetermined state indicates a high power type. 
     
     
         17 . The Ethernet device of  claim 15 , wherein after the control circuit detects the second classification voltage, the control circuit is further configured to:
 detect a signature voltage below the classification voltage range and set the indicator signal to the first predetermined state in response to the detected signature voltage.   
     
     
         18 . The Ethernet device of  claim 17 , wherein in the event that the control circuit does not detect the signature voltage, the control circuit is further configured to:
 set the indicator signal to a second predetermined state indicating a low power type.   
     
     
         19 . The Ethernet device of  claim 15 , wherein in the event that the control circuit detects the first classification voltage and does not detect the indexing voltage, the control circuit is further configured to:
 set the indicator signal to a second predetermined state indicating a low power type.   
     
     
         20 . The Ethernet device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one current source coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the at least one current source to provide a first predetermined classification current responsive to the detected first classification voltage and a second predetermined classification current responsive to the detected second classification voltage.   
     
     
         21 . The Ethernet device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one current source responsive to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the at least one current source to:   provide a first predetermined classification current responsive to the detected first classification voltage, wherein the first predetermined classification current exceeds a default classification value limit;   provide a draw down current responsive to the detected indexing voltage; and   provide a second predetermined classification current exceeding a default classification value limit responsive to the detected second classification voltage.   
     
     
         22 . The Ethernet device of  claim 21 , wherein the draw down current is of a value greater than the default classification value limit. 
     
     
         23 . An Ethernet device, comprising:
 a control circuit;   a voltage sensor coupled to the control circuit; and   a current source coupled to the control circuit;   wherein the control circuit, responsive to the voltage sensor, is configured to:
 detect a first classification voltage within a classification voltage range defined by a lower classification voltage limit and upper classification voltage limit; 
 generate a first classification current, by the current source, in response to detecting the first classification voltage; 
 determine if an indexing voltage is detected, wherein the indexing voltage is outside of the classification voltage range;
 if the indexing voltage is not detected, then set an indicator signal to a low power state based on an operating voltage; and 
 if the indexing voltage is detected, then:
 detect a second classification voltage within the classification voltage range, and 
 generate a second classification current, by the current source, in response to detecting the second classification voltage. 
 
 
   
     
     
         24 . The Ethernet device of  claim 23 , wherein after the control circuit is configured to generate the second classification current by the current source, the control circuit is further configured to:
 change the second classification current, by the current source, to a different current than a default classification limit.   
     
     
         25 . The Ethernet device of  claim 24 , wherein after the control circuit is configured to change the second classification current by the current source, the control circuit is further configured to:
 detect a signature voltage, wherein:
 if the signature voltage is not detected, then set an indicator signal to a low power state based on an operating voltage; and 
 if the signature voltage is detected, then wait for an operating voltage to be detected. 
   
     
     
         26 . The Ethernet device of  claim 25 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to set the indicator signal to the low power state based on the operating voltage comprises the control circuit is configured to:
 wait for the voltage sensor to detect the operating voltage; and   set the indicator signal to the state indicating the low power state.   
     
     
         27 . The Ethernet device of  claim 26 , wherein the control circuit is configured to closing a switch to a load after one of the control circuit is configured to detect the operating voltage and the control circuit is configured to set the indicator signal to the low power state based on the operating voltage. 
     
     
         28 . The Ethernet device of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 at least one current source coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the at least one current source to provide a first predetermined classification current responsive to the detected first classification voltage and a second predetermined classification current responsive to the detected second classification voltage.