Tip having active circuitry

1. A power supply system, comprising:

a power adapter to receive power from a power source and to output a first regulated output voltage (V out ), the power adapter including a regulation device;

a cable coupled to the power adapter, the cable having an associated resistance; and

a tip to receive a second regulated output voltage from the power adapter through the cable through a first connector and provide the second regulated output voltage to the power adapter through a second connector, the second regulated output voltage being based upon the first regulated output voltage but subject to a voltage loss in the cable, the tip including circuitry to provide a fraction of the second regulated output voltage to a voltage regulator to set a programming voltage (V prog ) based on comparing the fraction of the second regulated output voltage to a reference voltage, the programming voltage being output through the first connector and the cable to control a magnitude of the first output voltage output by the power adapter.

2. The power supply system according to claim 1 , wherein the power adapter has a quicker response time in providing the first regulated output voltage (V out ) due to feedback of the the programming voltage (V prog ).

3. The power supply according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage regulator is selected based upon its predetermined regulation characteristics.

4. The power supply system of claim 1 , where the power supply system does not suffer any voltage drop due to the associated resistance of the cable between the power adapter and the tip.

5. A power supply system, comprising:

a power adapter to receive power from a power source and to output a first regulated output voltage (V out ), the power adapter including a regulation device;

a cable coupled to the power adapter, the cable having an associated resistance;

a tip to receive a second regulated output voltage from the power adapter through the cable through a first connector and provide the second regulated output voltage to the power adapter through a second connector, the second regulated output voltage being based upon the first regulated output voltage but subject to a voltage loss in the cable, the tip including circuitry to provide a fraction of the second regulated output voltage to a voltage regulator to set a programming voltage (V prog ) based on comparing the fraction of the second regulated output voltage to a reference voltage, the programming voltage being output through the first connector and the cable to control a magnitude of the first output voltage output by the power adapter, and

a comparator to detect an error in a relationship between a first regulated output voltage (V out ) and the programming voltage (V prog ).

6. The power supply system of claim 5 , wherein the tip further includes a first lighting device to light when the error is detected.

7. The power supply system of claim 5 , the tip further including a switch to open, to prevent the second regulated output voltage from reaching the electronic device, when the error is detected.

8. The power supply system of claim 5 , wherein the tip includes a second lighting device to light when no error is detected.

9. The power supply system of claim 5 , further including a switch to close, to allow the second regulated output voltage to reach the electronic device, when no error is detected.

10. The power supply system of claim 5 , where the power supply system does not suffer any voltage drop due to the associated resistance of the cable between the power adapter and the tip.

11. A method of supplying power to an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a compensated output voltage at a tip, the compensated output voltage being the difference being a regulated output voltage provided from an adapter and voltage loss across a cable coupling the adapter to the tip;

setting, at a tip, a programming voltage (V prog ) based on comparison of a predetermined fraction of the compensated output voltage received at the tip and a reference voltage utilizing a regulator, the predetermined fraction defined by resistors within the tip;

feeding back the programming voltage (V prog ) to a regulator in the adapter to control a magnitude of the regulated output voltage provided by the adapter; and

outputting, via the tip, the compensated output voltage to the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including detecting an error in a relationship between the predetermined fraction of the compensated output voltage and the programming voltage.

13. The method of claim 12 , further including lighting a lighting device, located within the tip, when the error is detected.

14. The method of claim 12 , further including opening a switch located in the tip, to prevent Vout from reaching the electronic device, when the error is detected.

15. The method of claim 12 , further including lighting a lighting device, located within the tip, when the error is not detected.