Power converter responsive to device connection status

1. A device, comprising:

an output controller comprising:

a second secondary port electrically coupled to a second coil of a power converter; and

a third secondary port;

wherein the output controller is configured to monitor a voltage potential at the third secondary port;

wherein the third secondary port is electrically grounded via a first resistance;

wherein, when an adaptive device is coupled to the output controller via the third secondary port, a voltage divider circuit is formed by an adaptive device resistance and the first resistance;

wherein the output controller is configured to detect a change in the voltage potential at the third secondary port when the voltage divider circuit is formed;

wherein the second coil provides electrical power to the output controller and the adaptive device when the power converter is in a powered mode; and

wherein an adaptive device battery provides power to the output controller while the power converter transitions from a standby mode to the powered mode.

2. The device of claim 1 ,

wherein the output controller is configured to receive a device wake-up signal.

3. The device of claim 2 ,

wherein the device wake-up signal is received at the third secondary port.

4. The device of claim 3 ,

wherein the adaptive device resistance arises between a device signaling circuit and the third secondary port;

wherein the device wake-up signal is output by the device signaling circuit; and

wherein the output controller is configured to receive electrical power from the adaptive device battery when the adaptive device battery is electrically coupled to the second secondary port.

5. The device of claim 1 ,

wherein, to initiate a transition of the power converter from the standby mode to the powered mode, the adaptive device connects the adaptive device battery to the second secondary port.

6. The device of claim 1 ,

wherein the output controller is configured to receive a device wake-up signal [S DWU ] from the adaptive device at the third secondary port;

wherein upon receiving the device wake-up signal, the output controller is configured to initiate a transition mode during which the power converter transitions from the standby mode to the powered mode;

wherein during the standby mode, the output controller is unpowered; and

wherein during the transition mode, the output controller receives electrical power from the adaptive device battery.

7. The device of claim 1 ,

wherein the output controller further comprises:

a first secondary port electrically coupled to a data coupling device; and

wherein the output controller is configured to selectively operate a transmitting side of an opto-coupler while the power converter transitions from the standby mode to the powered mode.

8. The device of claim 1 ,

wherein the power converter further comprises a primary controller communicatively coupled to the output controller via an opto-coupler having a transmitting side and a receiving side; and

wherein, while the power converter transitions from the standby mode to the powered mode, the output controller is configured to selectively ground the transmitting side of the opto-coupler to communicate a request to the primary controller.

9. The device of claim 8 ,

wherein the output controller further comprises:

a wake-up circuit configured to perform at least one of operation comprising:

monitoring the voltage potential at the third secondary port;

detecting another change in the voltage potential at the third secondary port; and

selectively grounding the transmitting side of the opto-coupler.

10. The device of claim 9 ,

wherein, during the powered mode, the opto-coupler is configured to communicate a feedback signal to the primary controller.

11. A secondary controller for a power converter, comprising:

a first secondary port;

a second secondary port; and

a third secondary port;

wherein the secondary controller is configured to communicate, via the first secondary port, at least one signal to a primary controller of the power converter;

wherein the secondary controller is configured to receive electrical power, via the second secondary port, from a second coil of the power converter during a powered mode and from an adaptive device during a transition mode;

wherein the secondary controller is configured to detect a change in voltage potential arising when the adaptive device is connected to the power converter; and

wherein the change in the voltage potential is detected, at the third secondary port, using a voltage divider circuit formed by an adaptive device resistance and a first resistance coupled to the third secondary port.

12. The secondary controller for a power converter of claim 11 ,

wherein the at least one signal communicated via the first secondary port includes at least one of a wake-up signal and a feedback signal.

13. The secondary controller for a power converter of claim 11 ,

wherein a device wake-up signal is received at the third secondary port while the second secondary port is electrically connected to and receives electrical power from an adaptive device battery.

14. The secondary controller of claim 13 ,

wherein a wake-up signal is communicated to the primary controller upon the secondary controller receiving the device wake-up signal from the adaptive device.

15. The secondary controller for a power converter of claim 11 , further comprising:

a wake-up circuit, coupled to the third secondary port, configured to communicate a wake-up signal to the primary controller; and

wherein the wake-up circuit is configured to detect the change in voltage potential.

16. A method for operating a power converter, comprising:

during a powered mode of operation,

receiving electrical power, by a secondary controller for a power converter, from a second coil of a transformer in the power converter;

during a standby mode of operation,

powering down the secondary controller; and

monitoring a voltage potential at a port of the secondary controller;

initiating a transition mode of operation by,

detecting a change in the voltage potential;

wherein the change in voltage potential occurs when an adaptive device resistance and a grounded first resistance, coupled to the port of the secondary controller, form a voltage divider circuit that changes the voltage potential; and

during the transition mode of operation,

receiving electrical power, by the secondary controller, from an adaptive device battery.

17. The method of operating a power converter of claim 16 , comprising:

during the transition mode of operation,

receiving, by the secondary controller, a device wake-up signal from the adaptive device.

18. The method of operating a power converter of claim 17 , further comprising:

during the transition mode of operation,

stabilizing operation of the power converter until an applied voltage signal increases to a given voltage level;

wherein the applied voltage signal is communicated in a feedback signal transmitted by the secondary controller to a primary controller;

wherein the powered mode of operation occurs upon the applied voltage signal reaching the given voltage level; and

during the powered mode of operation,

providing an output power by the power converter to the adaptive device.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

in response to the device wake-up signal,

communicating a request by the secondary controller to the primary controller.

20. The method of operating a power converter of claim 16 , further comprising:

communicating a request by the secondary controller to a primary controller, by

selectively grounding a transmit side of an opto-coupler; and

wherein the transmit side of the opto-coupler is electrically coupled to the secondary controller and a receive side of the opto-coupler is electrically coupled to the primary controller.