# US 7,412,305 B2 · Power supply detection device and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,412,305 B2 - Document ID: US7412305B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/118,787 - Filed: 2005-04-29 - Published: 2005-11-24 - Granted: 2008-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2004-05-06 - Assignees: Tellabs Bedford, Inc. - Inventors: Brian J. Berard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7412305B2 ## CPC - G01R 19/16538: {in AC or DC supplies (G01R19/16519 and G01R19/16528 take precedence)} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A power supply detection circuit monitors an input voltage and generates a magnitude signal representative of a supply voltage magnitude. Timing signals are generated relative to a transient condition associated with connection to an input voltage. A data store receives timing signals and stores the magnitude signal at a timing interval so that the stored magnitude signal is representative of a predetermined power supply magnitude. The stored magnitude signal is used to automatically configure power protection circuitry and monitoring circuitry. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power circuit, comprising: a power supply detection circuit, including an input voltage magnitude detector circuit configured to receive a first supply voltage from a power supply input and generate a magnitude signal representative of the magnitude of the first supply voltage; a timing signal generation circuit configured to generate timing signals that are relative to a transient condition associated with the first supply voltage upon connection to the power supply input; and a data store circuit connected to the input voltage magnitude detector circuit and the timing signal generation circuit and configured to store the magnitude signal upon receiving a first timing signal from the timing signal generation circuit; and a power supply circuit connected to the power supply detection circuit and configured to operate in one of a plurality of magnitude modes, the magnitude modes dependent on the value of the magnitude signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the power supply circuit is further configured to be activated upon receiving a second timing signal from the timing signal generation circuit, the second timing signal occurring after a time period following the first timing signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the magnitude signal is representative of a predetermined power supply voltage magnitude. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the input voltage magnitude detector circuit includes a voltage divider circuit configured to generate a divided voltage proportional to the first supply voltage; a comparison circuit configured to compare the divided voltage to a reference voltage and generate magnitude signal based on the comparison. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the timing signal generation circuit includes a first time delay circuit configured to generate a reset signal relative to the transient condition associated with the first supply voltage upon connection to the power supply input; and a second time delay circuit configured to generate the first timing signal after a time period following the generation of the reset signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The power circuit of claim 5, wherein the data store comprises a latch configured to receive the reset signal as a reset input, the first timing signal as a clock input, and the magnitude signal as a data input. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the power supply circuit includes a load management circuit including a plurality of state transition circuits configured to provide a plurality of corresponding control signals indicative of when a plurality of corresponding load elements may draw current, each state transition circuit generating its corresponding control signal in response to a comparison of the first supply voltage to corresponding reference voltages, wherein one or more of the state transition circuits is configured to operate in a first magnitude mode by setting its corresponding reference voltages to a first magnitude reference scale in response to the magnitude signal and operate in a second magnitude mode by setting its corresponding reference voltages to a second magnitude reference scale in response to the value of the magnitude signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the power supply circuit includes a power input protection circuit including a pass circuit for controlling power distribution to a load, the pass device configured to block current flow to a load when in an off state; a high-voltage sensing circuit coupled to the pass circuit and configured to detect an over-voltage condition and generate an over-voltage signal that causes the pass circuit to switch to the off state; and a current sensing circuit coupled to the pass circuit and configured to detect a high current condition and to generate a current limiting signal to limit the current flow in the pass circuit in response to the high current condition; wherein at least one of the current limiter circuit and the high-voltage sensing circuit is configured to operate in a first magnitude mode or a second magnitude mode, the first and second magnitude modes selected in response to the value of the magnitude signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The power circuit of claim 2, wherein the power supply circuit includes a pumped capacitive storage element including an energy storage device coupled to the power supply input and configured to store at least a portion of input power from the first supply voltage and supply stored energy to the power supply input; and a pump circuit coupled to the power supply input and the energy storage device and configured to cause the energy storage device to store at least a portion of the input power when the first supply voltage is above a first threshold level, and to cause the energy storage device to stop receiving energy from the power supply input when the energy storage device voltage is at a second threshold level, wherein the first and second threshold levels are set to respective first and second reference values in a first magnitude mode and set to respective third and fourth reference values in a second magnitude mode, the first and second magnitude modes selected in response to the value of the magnitude signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the first supply voltage is a direct current (DC) voltage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The power circuit of claim 10, wherein the first supply voltage is transmitted over a transmission line, and wherein the transient condition associated with the first supply voltage is a resisitive-capacitive charge characteristic. ### Claim 12 A power supply detection device, comprising: an input voltage magnitude detector circuit configured to receive a first supply voltage from a power supply input and generate a magnitude signal representative of the magnitude of the first supply voltage; a timing signal generation circuit configured to generate timing signals that are proportional to a transient condition associated with the first supply voltage upon connection to the power supply input; and a memory circuit connected to the timing signal generation circuit and the input voltage magnitude detector circuit and configured to be enabled upon receiving a first timing signal from the timing signal generation circuit and to store the magnitude signal upon receiving a second timing signal from the timing signal generation circuit; wherein the magnitude signal is representative of a predetermined power supply magnitude. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The power supply detection device of claim 12, wherein the input voltage magnitude detector circuit includes a voltage divider circuit configured to generate a divided voltage proportional to the first supply voltage; and a comparison circuit configured to compare the divided voltage to a reference voltage and generate magnitude signal based on the comparison. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The power supply detection device of claim 12, wherein the timing signal generation circuit includes a first time delay circuit configured to generate the first timing signal relative to the transient condition associated with the first supply voltage upon connection to the power supply input; and a second time delay circuit configured to generate the first timing signal after a time period following the generation of first timing signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The power supply detection device of claim 12, further comprising a power supply circuit connected to the power supply detection circuit and configured to operate in one of a plurality of magnitude modes, the magnitude modes dependent on the value of the magnitude signal stored in the memory circuit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The power supply detection device of claim 15, wherein the power supply circuit includes a load management circuit included a plurality of state transition circuits configured to provide a plurality of corresponding control signals indicative of when a plurality of corresponding load elements may draw current, each state transition circuit generating its corresponding control signal in response to a comparison of the first supply voltage to corresponding reference voltages, wherein one or more of the state transition circuits is configured to operate in a first magnitude mode by setting its corresponding reference voltages to a first magnitude reference scale in response to the magnitude signal and operate in a second magnitude mode by setting its corresponding reference voltage to a second magnitude reference scale in response to the value of the magnitude signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The power supply detection device of claim 15, wherein the power supply circuit includes a power input protection circuit including a pass circuit for controlling power distribution to a load, the pass device configured to block current flow to a load when in an off state; a high-voltage sensing circuit coupled to the pass circuit and configured to detect an over-voltage condition and generate an over-voltage signal that causes the pass circuit to switch to the off state; and a current sensing circuit coupled to the pass circuit and configured to detect a high current condition and to generate a current limiting signal to limit the current flow in the pass circuit in response to the high current condition; wherein at least one of the current limiter circuit and the high-voltage sensing circuit is configured to operate in a first magnitude mode or a second magnitude mode, the first and second magnitude modes selected in response to the value of the magnitude signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The power supply detection device of claim 15, wherein the power supply circuit includes a pumped capacitive storage element including an energy storage device coupled to the power supply input and configured to store at least a portion of input power from the first supply voltage and supply stored energy to the power supply input; and a pump circuit coupled to the power supply input and the energy storage device and configured to cause the energy storage device to store at least a portion of the input power when the first supply voltage is above a first threshold level, and to cause the energy storage device to stop receiving energy from the power supply input when the energy storage device voltage is at a second threshold level, wherein the first and second threshold levels are set to respective first and second reference values in a first magnitude mode and set to respective third and fourth reference values in a second magnitude mode, the first and second magnitude modes selected in response to the value of the magnitude signal. ### Claim 19 A power processing method, comprising: receiving a first supply voltage from a power supply input; generating a magnitude signal representative of the magnitude of the first supply voltage; generating timing signals that are proportional to a transient condition associated with the first supply voltage upon receiving the first supply voltage; selectively enabling a memory circuit by a first generated timing signal; selectively storing the magnitude signal according to a second generated timing signal; wherein the timing signals are generated at timing intervals so that the stored magnitude signal is representative of a predetermined power supply magnitude. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The power processing method of claim 19, further comprising: configuring a power supply circuit to operate in a plurality of magnitude modes; and selecting one of the magnitude modes in response to the value of the stored magnitude signal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The power processing method of claim 20, further comprising enabling energization of the power supply circuit only after selectively storing of the magnitude signal. ### Claim 22 A power processing circuit, comprising: means for receiving a first supply voltage from a power supply input; means for generating a magnitude signal representative of the magnitude of the first supply voltage; means generating timing signals that are proportional to a transient condition associated with the first supply voltage upon receiving the first supply voltage; means for selectively storing the magnitude signal; wherein the timing signals are generated at timing intervals so that the stored magnitude signal is representative of a predetermined power supply magnitude.