Method and apparatus for informing computer of power environment
View Patent ↗A power adaptor for a computer discovers the power environment when it is plugged into a socket and sends a signal to the computer along the power line indicating the environment, so that the computer can configure operations accordingly.
1. A system, comprising:
a computer;
at least one power adapter connectable to the computer to supply power thereto, the adapter being configured to engage an outlet of a power supply, the adapter sending a signal to the computer indicating the type of the power supply, wherein the signal has a frequency correlated to the type of AC power supply, with different frequencies indicating different AC power supplies.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adapter supplies power to the computer over a power line, and the signal is sent over the power line.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adapter generates the signal by toggling at least one transistor.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outlet is an electrical socket.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the adapter determines power supply type at least in part based on a voltage input to the adapter.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer establishes a power mode in response to the signal indicating the type of the power supply.
7. A method, comprising:
using an adapter to convert power from a source into a demanded dc power to power a computer; and
using the adapter to send information to the computer related to the type of source that the source is wherein the adapter sends a signal to the computer indicating the type of the power supply, wherein the adapter generates the signal by toggling at least one transistor.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the signal has a frequency correlated to the type of power supply, with different frequencies indicating different power supplies.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the adapter determines power supply type at least in part based on a voltage input to the adapter.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the computer establishes a power mode in response to the signal indicating the type of the power supply.