Method and Apparatus for Powering a Portable Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016134381-A1
Application number	US-201414537439-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 10, 2014
Priority date	Nov 10, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of monitoring a process of powering a portable device through a cable connected between a power supply and said portable device is proposed, the method comprising applying a time-dependent current variation to one end of the cable in accordance with a spreading sequence, detecting a time-dependent voltage variation at the one end of the cable, the time dependent voltage variation resulting from said applying of the time-dependent current variation, and determining a quantity indicative of an impedance of the cable assembly based on the time-dependent voltage variation and the spreading sequence. Further, an apparatus for monitoring a process of powering a portable device through a cable connected between a power supply and said portable device is proposed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of monitoring a process of powering a portable device through a cable connected between a power supply and said portable device, the method comprising:
applying a time-dependent current variation to one end of the cable in accordance with a spreading sequence; detecting a time-dependent voltage variation at the one end of the cable, the time dependent voltage variation resulting from said applying of the time-dependent current variation; and determining a quantity indicative of an impedance of the cable assembly based on the time-dependent voltage variation and the spreading sequence.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising generating the spreading sequence.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the spreading sequence is a pseudo-random or random sequence.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the spreading sequence is a binary sequence.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
correlating the time-dependent voltage variation with the spreading sequence, wherein said determining the quantity indicative of the impedance of the cable assembly is based on the result of said correlating.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein said correlating involves:
multiplying the time-dependent voltage variation and the spreading sequence; and averaging over time the result of said multiplication.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein said correlating further involves:
synchronizing the time-dependent voltage variation and the spreading sequence.

8 . The method according to claim 6 ,
wherein the spreading sequence has a given length; and wherein said averaging over time involves performing a time integration, over the given length, of the result of said multiplication.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said detecting the time-dependent voltage variation involves:
detecting a time-dependent voltage at the one end of the cable; and removing a DC component of the detected time dependent voltage.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the amplitude of the time-dependent current variation is chosen such that the time-dependent voltage variation is small compared to a voltage for powering the portable device.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
comparing values of the quantity indicative of the impedance of the cable assembly obtained at different timings; determining a rate of change of the quantity indicative of the impedance of the cable assembly based on the result of said comparison.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
adjusting a current and/or a voltage output by the power supply in accordance with the determined quantity indicative of the impedance of the cable assembly.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cable is a pluggable cable with standardized connectors.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the power supply is a switched power supply.

15 . An apparatus for monitoring a process of powering a portable device through a cable connected between a power supply and said portable device, the apparatus comprising:
a current sink for applying a time-dependent current variation to one end of the cable in accordance with a spreading sequence; voltage detecting means for detecting a time-dependent voltage variation at the one end of the cable, the time dependent voltage variation resulting from said applying of the time-dependent current variation; and computing means for determining a quantity indicative of an impedance of the cable assembly based on the time-dependent voltage variation and the spreading sequence.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a sequence generator for generating the spreading sequence.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the sequence generator is adapted to generate the spreading sequence as a pseudo-random or random sequence.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the sequence generator is adapted to generate the spreading sequence as a binary sequence.

19 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the sequence generator comprises a linear feedback shift-register structure.

20 . The apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a pulse-shaping filter for generating a control signal for controlling the current sink based on the spreading sequence.

21 . The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the pulse-shaping filter is a finite impulse response filter, in particular a raised cosine filter.

22 . The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the computing means comprises a multiplicator adapted to multiply the time-dependent voltage variation with the spreading sequence, a numerical integrator adapted to time-average the result of said multiplication, and an impedance calculator adapted to calculate the quantity indicative of the impedance of the cable assembly based on the time average.

23 . The apparatus according to claim 22 ,
wherein the computing means further comprises a phase shifter for synchronizing the time-dependent voltage variation and the spreading sequence.

24 . The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein
the spreading sequence has a given length; and wherein said numerical integrator is adapted to time-average the result of said multiplication by performing a time integration, over the given length, of the result of said multiplication.

25 . The apparatus according to claim 15 ,
wherein the voltage detecting means is adapted to detect a time-dependent voltage at the one end of the cable; and wherein the apparatus comprises a filter adapted to remove a DC component of the time dependent voltage.

26 . The apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a controller for generating a command to adjust a current and/or a voltage output by the power supply in accordance with the determined quantity indicative of an impedance of the cable assembly.

Assignees

• Dialog Semiconductor Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Malinin Andrey
• Harju Lasse
• Lubberhuizen Wessel

Classifications

• H04B1/707 Primary

  using direct sequence modulation · CPC title

• H04B3/46

  Monitoring; Testing · CPC title

• G01R31/2812

  Checking for open circuits or shorts, e.g. solder bridges; Testing conductivity, resistivity or impedance (of connections G01R31/66) · CPC title

• G01R31/58

  Testing of lines, cables or conductors (testing of electric windings G01R31/72) · CPC title

• H04B1/69

  Spread spectrum techniques · CPC title