System and method of communicating with portable devices
AssigneeAmerican Power Conversion Corporation
InventorHimanshu Trivedi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
At least one aspect of the invention is directed to a communications adapter for coupling between a power adapter and a laptop computer. The communications adapter includes a first connector adapted to couple to the power adapter to receive DC power, and a second connector adapted to couple to a laptop computer. The communications adapter further includes a communications circuit constructed and arranged to receive signals from the laptop computer through the second connector and to provide signals to the laptop computer in response.
Claims20
A communications adapter for coupling between a power adapter and a laptop computer, the communications adapter comprising:
- a first connector configured to couple to the power adapter to receive DC power;
- a second connector configured to couple to a laptop computer;
- and
- a communications circuit constructed and arranged to receive signals from the laptop computer through the second connector and to provide signals that emulate a power adapter to the laptop computer in response;
- wherein the communications adapter is configured to directly electrically couple the first connector to the second connector and provide an output voltage at the second connector equal to an input voltage of the DC power at the first connector.
A communications adapter for coupling between a power adapter and a laptop computer, the communications adapter comprising:
- a first connector configured to couple to the power adapter to receive DC power;
- a second connector configured to couple to a laptop computer;
- and
- a communications circuit constructed and arranged to receive signals from the laptop computer through the second connector and to provide signals that emulate a power adapter to the laptop computer in response;
- and
- a one-wire communications bus coupled to the second connector and the communications circuit to support two-way communications between the communications adapter and the laptop computer.
A method of coupling a laptop computer to a power adapter, the method comprising:
- coupling a first connector of a communications adapter to the power adapter to receive DC power having a DC voltage from the power adapter;
- coupling a second connector of the communications adapter to the laptop computer to provide the DC power from the power adapter to the laptop computer;
- providing a direct electrical connection from the first connector to the second connector to provide the DC voltage at the second connector;
- and
- performing a communications handshaking procedure and providing signals that emulate a power adapter between the communications adapter and the laptop computer.
A method of coupling a laptop computer to a power adapter, the method comprising:
- coupling a first connector of a communications adapter to the power adapter to receive DC power from the power adapter;
- coupling a second connector of the communications adapter to the laptop computer to provide the DC power from the power adapter to the laptop computer;
- and
- performing a communications handshaking procedure and providing signals that emulate a power adapter between the communications adapter and the laptop computer;
- wherein performing a handshaking procedure includes communicating between the laptop computer and the communications adapter over a communications bus that extends through the second connector of the communications adapter;
- and
- wherein the communications bus is a one-wire communications bus.
A communications adapter for coupling between a power adapter and a laptop computer, the communications adapter comprising:
- a first connector adapted to couple to the power adapter to receive DC power;
- a second connector adapted to couple to a laptop computer;
- and
- means for communicating with the laptop computer and for emulating a power adapter associated with the laptop computer, the means for communicating including means for sending signals to and receiving signals from the laptop computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.