Power supply systems
Exemplary power supply systems according to the present invention include circuitry that is configured to provide DC power and configured to receive a input signal that originates from a portable electronic device (the “PED”) and to provide a output signal to be sent to the PED. Such circuitry is configured to be coupled to the PED via a connector having a first, second, third, and fourth conductor. Such a connector is configured to be detachably mated with a power input interface of the PED to transfer the DC power to the PED, a ground reference to the PED, the input signal from the PED to the circuitry, and, in coordination with the input signal, the output signal from the circuitry to the PED, which is usable by the PED in connection with control of charging a battery of the PED based on the DC power provided by the circuitry.
1. A power supply system comprising:
power circuitry configured to provide direct current power; and
data circuitry configured to receive a first signal that originates from a portable electronic device and to provide a second signal to be sent to the portable electronic device, the data circuitry and the power circuitry configured to be coupled via a connector to the portable electronic device, the connector comprising a first conductor, a second conductor, a third conductor, and a fourth conductor, the connector configured to be detachably mated with a power input interface of the portable electronic device to:
transfer, via the first conductor, the direct current power to the portable electronic device,
transfer, via the second conductor, a ground reference to the portable electronic device,
transfer, via the third conductor, the first signal from the portable electronic device to the data circuitry, and
transfer, via the fourth conductor, the second signal from the data circuitry to the portable electronic device;
wherein the data circuitry is further configured, in coordination with the first signal, to provide the second signal, the second signal having a parameter level that is usable by the portable electronic device in connection with control of charging a rechargeable battery of the portable electronic device based on the direct current power provided by the power circuitry.
2. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the connector is disposed on an end of a cable.
3. The power supply system of claim 2 wherein the connector is removeable from the end of the cable.
4. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the connector is operatively coupled to the data circuitry and the power circuitry by a circuit board.
5. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the parameter level of the second signal is used by the data circuitry to communicate to the portable electronic device a power level of the direct current power available to the portable electronic device.
6. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the parameter level of the second signal is a voltage level.
7. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the first signal is received by the data circuitry in response to the power circuitry providing the direct current power and the ground reference to the portable electronic device.
8. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device is a computer.
9. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device is a phone.
10. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device is a digital music player.
11. A power supply system comprising:
power circuitry configured to provide direct current power; and
data circuitry configured to provide a output signal to be sent to a portable electronic device and to receive an input signal that originates from a portable electronic device, the data circuitry and the power circuitry configured to be coupled via a connector to the portable electronic device, the connector comprising a first conductor, a second conductor, a third conductor, and a fourth conductor, the connector configured to be detachably mated with a power input interface of the portable electronic device to:
transfer, via the first conductor, the direct current power to the portable electronic device,
transfer, via the second conductor, a ground reference to the portable electronic device,
transfer, via the third conductor, the output signal from the data circuitry to the portable electronic device;
transfer, via the fourth conductor, the input signal from the portable electronic device to the data circuitry, and
wherein the data circuitry is further configured, in coordination with the input signal, to provide the output signal, the output signal usable by the portable electronic device in connection with control of charging a rechargeable battery of the portable electronic device based on the direct current power provided by the power circuitry.
12. The power supply system of claim 11 wherein the connector is disposed on an end of a cable.
13. The power supply system of claim 12 wherein the connector is removeable from the end of the cable.
14. The power supply system of claim 11 wherein the connector is operatively coupled to the data circuitry and the power circuitry by a circuit board.
15. The power supply system of claim 11 wherein the output signal comprises a parameter level used by the data circuitry to communicate to the portable electronic device a power level of the direct current power available to the portable electronic device.
16. The power supply system of claim 15 wherein the parameter level of the output signal is a voltage level.
17. The power supply system of claim 11 wherein the input signal is received by the data circuitry in response to the power circuitry providing the direct current power and the ground reference to the portable electronic device.
18. The power supply system of claim 11 wherein the portable electronic device is a computer.
19. The power supply system of claim 11 wherein the portable electronic device is a phone.
20. The power supply system of claim 11 wherein the portable electronic device is a digital music player.