# US 2021/0333331 A1 · Power monitoring adapters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0333331 A1 - Document ID: US20210333331A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/481,678 - Filed: 2018-03-23 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-23 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: Peter Seiler; Noel D Scott; Adolfo Adolfo Gomez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210333331A1 ## CPC - H02J 1/106: {for load balancing, symmetrisation, or sharing} - G01R 31/40: Testing power supplies (testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10) - G05F 1/625: wherein it is irrelevant whether the variable actually regulated is AC or DC - G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/28: Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision - H02J 1/108: having arrangements for blocking reverse current flow, e.g. using diodes (H02J1/12 takes precedence) - H04L 25/02: Details {; arrangements for supplying electrical power along data transmission lines (systems for transmitting signals via power distribution lines H04B3/54)} - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A power monitoring adapter may include a plurality of power supply unit (PSU) inputs to couple a plurality of PSUs to the power monitoring adapter. The power monitoring adapter may also include a power output to electrically couple the power monitoring adapter to a powered system. The power output includes a voltage line, and a ground. Further, the power monitoring adapter may include a side band interface to couple to the powered system. The side band interface communicates status data of the number of PSUs coupled to the power monitoring adapter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power monitoring adapter, comprising: a plurality of power supply unit (PSU) inputs to couple a plurality of PSUs to the power monitoring adapter; a power output to electrically couple the power monitoring adapter to a powered system, the power output comprising: a voltage line; and a ground; and a side band interface to couple to the powered system, the side band interface communicating status data of the number of PSUs coupled to the power monitoring adapter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power monitoring adapter of claim 1, further comprising a PSU status module to: determine a status of each of the PSUs coupled to the power monitoring adapter; and transmit data, via the side band interface, representing the status of each of the PSUs to the powered system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power monitoring adapter of claim 1, wherein the side band interface comprises a wired network connection or wireless network connection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power monitoring adapter of claim 1, comprising a plurality of asymmetric conductance devices coupled between the power monitoring adapter and each of the PSUs to conduct current to the powered system and restrict conductance of current to another PSU. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power monitoring adapter of claim 1, comprising a status indicator to indicate a status parameter of the PSUs. ### Claim 6 A power supply system comprising: a plurality of power supply units (PSUs), a power monitoring adapter comprising: a plurality of PSU inputs to couple the PSUs to the power monitoring adapter; a power output to electrically couple the power monitoring adapter to a powered system, the power output comprising: a voltage line; and a ground; and a side band interface to couple to the powered system, the side band interface communicating status data of the number of PSUs coupled to the power monitoring adapter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The power supply system of claim 6, wherein the PSUs each comprise a barrel jack, the barrel jack comprising a voltage line, a ground, a communication conductor to communicate capabilities of the PSUs, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The power supply system of claim 6, wherein the power monitoring adapter comprises a power regulator to match power received from the PSUs to the power requirements of the powered system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The power supply system of claim 6, wherein the power monitoring adapter comprises a plurality of different input connection form factors to accept electromechanical coupling of PSUs with different output connection form factors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The power supply system of claim 6, wherein the power monitoring adapter comprises a plurality of asymmetric conductance devices coupled between the power monitoring adapter and each of the PSUs to conduct current to the powered system and restrict conductance of current to another PSU. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The power supply system of claim 6, wherein the power monitoring adapter further comprises a PSU status module to: determine a status of each of the PSUs coupled to the power monitoring adapter; and transmit data, via the side band interface, representing the status of each of the PSUs to the powered system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The power supply system of claim 6, comprising a status indicator to indicate a status parameter of the PSUs. ### Claim 13 A method for communicating a status of a power supply unit (PSU) comprising: with a power monitoring adapter, identifying the coupling of a plurality of PSUs to the power monitoring adapter; with a PSU status module of the power monitoring adapter, identifying a status of the PSUs coupled to the power monitoring adapter; with a status indicator communicating, via a side band interface coupled between the power monitoring adapter and a powered system, the status of the PSUs, wherein the side band interface is separate from a power output of the power monitoring adapter used to power the powered system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, comprising: regulating power output from each of the PSUs coupled to the power monitoring adapter; and with a number of asymmetric conductance devices coupled between the power monitoring adapter and each of the PSUs, restricting current conduction between PSUs. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, comprising, with the PSU status module, identifying a number of parameters of each PSU coupled to the power monitoring adapter.