Dynamic port power allocation apparatus and methods

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for dynamically adjusting the amount of power (or current) distributed to one or more connected devices via electrical interfaces. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first module adapted to detect current drawn by a first set of ports, and a second module adapted to adjust the current provided to a second set of ports based on the detected current. The second module is also optionally adapted to distribute unreserved current among the devices according to an allocation protocol. In the exemplary context of a plurality of interconnected serial bus devices, the invention enables a device to draw more current than that required to be reserved for that device (such as to comply with a specification such as USB), yet without increasing the total amount of power which must be dedicated to the serial ports as a whole. Power supply efficiency may also be advantageously optimized.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method for regulating current delivered over a plurality of ports within an electronic device, comprising:
 detecting an amount of current drawn over a first of the ports to a first device;   determining that the first device comprises a battery;   based at least on the determining, communicating an adjusted current limitation with the first device; and   distributing an excess amount of current available to a first of the ports without affecting the amount of current available to a second of the ports;   wherein the adjusted amount of current enables accelerated charging of the battery.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the electronic device comprises an IEEE Std. 1394—compliant host controller. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the electronic device comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) compliant host controller. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the electronic device comprises a power supply that has peak efficiency occurring at an output current that is below its maximum rated output current. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the power supply has peak efficiency occurring at an output of approximately 1600 milliamps (mA), and a maximum rated output of approximately 2200 mA. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the adjusting the amount of current available to a second of said ports is based at least in part upon the amount of current drawn over the first port; and   the adjusting the amount of current available to a second of said ports is further adapted to maintain the total amount of current drawn by all of said plurality of ports at or proximate to said output current corresponding to said peak efficiency.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the amount of current available to the second of said ports is based at least in part upon a minimum required value. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the minimum required value comprises 500 milliamps (mA). 
     
     
         40 . An electronic device configured to accelerate battery charging of at least one battery powered apparatus, the electronic device comprising:
 a plurality of ports;   a power supply; and   computerized logic in data communication with the power supply and the plurality of ports, the computerized logic configured to cause the electronic device to:
 determine that a device connected to a first of the plurality of ports comprises a battery powered apparatus; and 
 based at least on the determination, adjust an amount of current available to the first port. 
   
     
     
         41 . The electronic device of  claim 40 , wherein the adjusted amount of current comprises an increase available current configured to accelerate battery charging of the connected device. 
     
     
         42 . The electronic device of  claim 41 , wherein the computerized logic is further configured to:
 determine an optimal peak efficiency range of the power supply; and   in response to the adjusted amount of current available to the first port, adjust current available on one or more remaining ports of the plurality of ports to maintain operation of the power supply within the optimal peak efficiency range.   
     
     
         43 . The electronic device of  claim 42 , wherein:
 the computerized logic is further configured to assign a priority level to each device connected to a port of the plurality of ports; and   connected devices determined to comprise battery powered apparatus are given a higher priority level than non-battery powered apparatus.   
     
     
         44 . The electronic device of  claim 43 , wherein the amount of current available to a port of the plurality of ports is based at least in part on the assigned priority level of a device connected to the port. 
     
     
         45 . The electronic device of  claim 40 , wherein the computerized logic is further configured to communicate with the device determined to comprise a battery powered apparatus to increase an amount of current drawn by the device. 
     
     
         46 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which are configured to, when executed by a processor, cause an electronic device to:
 determine an amount of current drawn by one or more ports of a plurality of ports of the electronic device;   identify one or more devices connected to one of the plurality of ports that are battery powered; and   adjust an amount of current drawn for at least a portion of the ports connected to the one or more battery powered devices.   
     
     
         47 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 46 , wherein the instructions are configured to maintain a peak optimal efficiency of a power supply of the electronic device. 
     
     
         48 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 46 , wherein the peak optimal efficiency is maintained by at least adjusting current drawn over one or more remaining ports of the plurality of ports based at least in part on the adjusted amount of current drawn for the at least a portion of the ports connected to the one or more battery powered devices. 
     
     
         49 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 48 , wherein a port connected to a battery powered device has a higher priority to maintain the adjusted amount of current drawn during the maintenance of the peak optimal efficiency as compared to ports connected to non-battery powered devices. 
     
     
         50 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 48 , wherein the instructions are configured remove the higher priority upon a determination that a charge level of a respective battery powered device has met a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         51 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 46 , wherein the adjusted amount of current drawn for at least a portion of the ports with battery powered devices is configured to reduce an amount of time required to charge the one or more battery powered devices.