Small form factor voltage adapters and devices, platforms, and techniques for managing power boosts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9553519-B2
Application number	US-201414294822-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2014
Priority date	Jun 4, 2013
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

Techniques and devices related to power adapters for mobile devices and, in particular, small form factor power adapters that allow a voltage droop during a power pulse exceeding a maximum output of the power adapter are discussed. For example, a small form factor and low voltage power adapter may include an adapter output power protection control that limits an output of the power adapter in response to a power pulse exceeding a maximum output of the power adapter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A voltage adapter to power a mobile device, the voltage adapter comprising:
a switch and a transformer coupled to the switch;
an output rectifier coupled to the transformer;
an output decoupler capacitor coupled to the output rectifier and configured to provide a direct current output from the voltage adapter; and
an adapter output power protection controller coupled to the switch, the adapter output power protection controller to determine a draw on the voltage adapter from the mobile device and, when the draw is less than a maximum output power of the voltage adapter, to maintain a constant output voltage of the voltage adapter and, when the draw is greater than the maximum output power due to a power pulse from the mobile device exceeding the maximum output power, to provide a constant output power or a constant output current of the voltage adapter and allow the output voltage of the voltage adapter to droop during the power pulse.

2. The voltage adapter of claim 1 , wherein the adapter output power protection controller is to control the transformer via the switch to provide the constant output power or current by being configured to limit a duty cycle of the transformer.

3. The voltage adapter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing; and
alternating current (AC) prongs configured to pivot between an enclosed position within the housing to an extended position wherein at least a portion of the AC prongs are outside of the housing.

4. The voltage adapter of claim 1 , further comprising:
an input rectifier configured to convert an alternating current input to a direct current (DC); and
a power smoothing capacitor coupled between the input rectifier and the transformer.

5. A system comprising the voltage adapter and the mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile device platform comprising a processor and a local battery, the mobile device platform to, during the power droop, partially power the mobile device using the local battery and reduce performance of the processor.

6. The voltage adapter of claim 3 , wherein the AC prongs are within a first region of the housing in the enclosed position and wherein the transformer, the output rectifier, the output decoupler capacitor, and the adapter output power protection controller are within a second region of the housing adjacent to the first region.

7. The voltage adapter of claim 3 , further comprising:
a wire having a coupler, wherein the wire is configured to extend to the mobile device, and wherein the housing comprises an exterior groove extending around the housing for storing the wire when not in use.

8. The voltage adapter of claim 7 , further comprising:
a second groove in the housing configured to receive the coupler; and
a magnet in the housing configured to hold the coupler in place when not in use.

9. A voltage adapter to power a mobile device, the voltage adapter comprising:
an input rectifier configured to convert an alternating current input to a direct current (DC);
a DC-DC converter configured to convert the DC to an output DC; and
an adapter output power protection controller coupled to the DC-DC converter, the adapter output power protection controller to determine a draw on the voltage adapter from the mobile device and, when the draw is less than a maximum output power of the voltage adapter, to maintain a constant output voltage of the voltage adapter and, when the draw is greater than the maximum output power due to a power pulse from the mobile device exceeding the maximum output power, to provide a constant output power or current of the voltage adapter and allow the output voltage of the voltage adapter to droop during the power pulse.

10. The voltage adapter of claim 9 , wherein the adapter output power protection controller is configured to control the DC-DC converter by being configured to limit a duty cycle of a transformer of the DC-DC converter.

11. The voltage adapter of claim 9 , further comprising:
a housing; and
alternating current (AC) prongs configured to pivot between an enclosed position within the housing to an extended position wherein at least a portion of the AC prongs are outside of the housing.

12. The voltage adapter of claim 9 , wherein the DC-DC converter comprises a switch and a transformer and an output rectifier.

13. A system comprising the voltage adapter and the mobile device of claim 9 , wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile device platform comprising a processor and a local battery, the mobile device platform to, during the power droop, partially power the mobile device using the local battery and reduce performance of the processor.

14. The voltage adapter of claim 11 , wherein the AC prongs are within a first region of the housing in the enclosed position and wherein the DC-DC converter and the adapter output power protection controller are within a second region of the housing adjacent to the first region.

15. The voltage adapter of claim 11 , further comprising:
a wire having a coupler, wherein the wire is configured to extend to a mobile device, and wherein the housing comprises an exterior groove extending around the housing for storing the wire when not in use.

16. The voltage adapter of claim 15 , further comprising:
a second groove in the housing configured to receive the coupler; and
a magnet in the housing configured to hold the coupler in place when not in use.

17. A mobile device-implemented method for a mobile device platform connected to a voltage adapter external to the mobile device, the method comprising:
limiting a power boost operation of the mobile device to a first duration, wherein the power boost operation demands a power pulse from the voltage adapter that is above a maximum output power of the voltage adapter, and wherein the first duration is limited by the mobile device platform to a duration not greater than a maximum power boost duration of the voltage adapter;
eliminating, by the mobile device platform, use of a second power boost operation during a predetermined duration after the first duration of the power boost operation that is not less than a recharge time of the voltage adapter; and
implementing the second power boost operation only after the predetermined duration and limiting the second power boost operation to a second duration limited by the mobile device platform to a duration not greater than the maximum power boost duration of the voltage adapter.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the maximum power boost duration and the recharge time are associated with an output decoupler capacitor of the voltage adapter.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the maximum power boost duration is not more than 5 milliseconds and the recharge time of the output decoupler capacitor is not more than 100 milliseconds.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the power boost operation makes a demand for power exceeding a maximum output of the voltage adapter.

21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
detecting a battery unavailable indicator at the mobile device; and
entering a lower power boost operating mode in response to the battery unavailable indicator, wherein limiting the power boost operation to the first duration, restricting use of a second power boost operation during the predetermined duration, and implementing the second power boost operation only after the predetermined duration and limiting the second power boost operation to the second duration are responsive

Assignees

• Uan-Zo-Li Alexander
• Kim Christine
• Srinivasan Thyagarajan
• Daskalakis George
• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Uan-Zo-Li Alexander
• Kim Christine
• Srinivasan Thyagarajan
• Daskalakis George

Classifications

• H02M7/537

  using semiconductor devices only, e.g. single switched pulse inverters · CPC title

• H02M5/32

  by dynamic converters · CPC title

• H02M2003/1566

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02M1/32

  Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection · CPC title

• H02M2001/325

  Electricity · mapped topic