Systems and methods for implementing and controlling source-measurement systems

Abstract

An example method for controllably interfacing with a source-measurement peripheral device comprises: receiving, at the source-measurement peripheral device, first data from a portable computing device; converting the first data from the portable computing device to a media communication protocol (e.g. I2S); using the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of a digital to analog converter (DAC) in response to the first data, to thereby cause the DAC to output an analog output signal corresponding to the first data; and outputting output electrical power from the source-measurement system based at least in part on the analog output signal corresponding to the first data.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING AND CONTROLLING SOURCE¬MEASUREMENT SYSTEMSRelated Application

[0001] This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, United States provisional patent application no. 63 / 572,270 filed March 30, 2024. The entire contents of United States provisional patent application no. 63 / 572,270 are incorporated by reference herein.Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to electrical power source-measurement devices and to other peripheral devices incorporating analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and / or digital-to-analog converters (DACs). Some embodiments provide systems and methods for implementing and controlling source-measurement systems (and / or systems related to other peripheral devices) using media communication protocol of a portable computing device (e.g. a mobile phone, tablet, laptop and / or the like).Background

[0003] Electrical power source-measurement systems are capable of outputting (sourcing) analog electrical power to an external system with particular electrical characteristics (e.g. voltage, current, power, charge and / or the like) and / or measuring (sampling) electrical characteristics (e.g. voltage, current, power, charge and / or the like) from an external system. Examples of source-measurement systems are described in Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application No. PCT / CA2022 / 051706 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a typical prior art electrical power source-measurement device 10 for outputting electrical power to and / or measuring electrical characteristics from an electrical system 30. Source-measurement device 10 comprises a controller 12 (typically implemented by one or more processors, such as microcontrollers, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and / or the like) which controls the operation of source-measurement device 10 in response to operational parameters supplied to source-measurement device 10 via communication link 16 and / or user interface 14. Display 18 may be used to display various operational parameters, measurementsfrom external system 30, aspects of user interface 14 and / or any other information useful for the operation of source-measurement device 10.

[0005] Controller 12 together with power supply unit (PSU) 20 control the sourcing of electrical power to external system 30. In particular, controller 12 sends appropriate digital control signals to DACs 24 and DACs 24 convert these digital control signals to analog electrical signals, which are in turn output to external system 30 by source / sense unit 26 using power from power supply unit 20. PSU 20 may comprise any suitable power source capable of sourcing the power requirements of sourcemeasurement unit 10. Source / sense unit 26 may comprise suitable power electronics and signal processing electronics to source and, in some embodiments, control electrical power with the characteristics suitable for external system 30 (which may depend on the nature of external system 30). Controller 12 may also control the sampling of electrical characteristics from external system 30. In particular, controller may cause ADCs 22 to digitally sample electrical characteristics from external system 30 via source / sense unit 26. Source / sense unit 26 may comprise suitable power electronics and signal processing electronics to process signals received from external system 30 (which may depend on the nature of external system 30) and to condition such signals appropriately for conversion to digital form by ADCs 22.

[0006] Typically, source-measurement device 10 uses the Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) and / or the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) digital protocol for communication between controller 12 (although, they sometimes use other protocols, such the universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter (UART), controller area network (CAN) and / or the like) and ADCs 22 and DACs 24 and / or between controller 12 and the other components of device 10 (e.g. user interface 14, display 18, communication interface 16 and / or power supply unit 20). Source-measurement device 10 may also use the I2C and / or SPI digital protocol for communication between components independently of controller 12.

[0007] Drawbacks with the Figure 1 prior art source-measurement device 10 include device 10 being large and expensive because of components, such as controller 12 (its accessible memory), user interface 14, communication interface 16 and display 18. There is a general desire to provide source-measurement devices that are relatively small. There is a general desire to provide source-measurement devices that are relatively inexpensive.Summary

[0008] This invention has a number of aspects. These include, without limitation:• methods for implementing source-measurement systems;• source-measurement systems;• methods for using a mobile computing device to control source-measurement systems;• source-measurement systems comprising mobile computing devices and source-measurement peripherals.Some aspects of the invention make use of a media communication protocol (e.g. I2S) to communicate characteristics of an output signal to be sourced to an external system and / or to encode characteristics of an input signal measured from the external system.

[0009] One aspect of the invention provides a method for implementing a sourcemeasurement system. The method comprises: receiving, at a source-measurement peripheral device, first data from a portable computing device; converting the first data from the portable computing device to a media communication protocol (e.g. I2S); using the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of a digital to analog converter (DAC) in response to the first data, to thereby cause the DAC to output an analog output signal corresponding to the first data; and outputting output electrical power from the source-measurement peripheral device based at least in part on the analog output signal corresponding to the first data.

[0010] Using the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of the DAC in response to the first data may comprise providing the first data in the media communication protocol as input to the DAC.

[0011] Using the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of the DAC in response to the first data may comprise: converting the first data in the media communication protocol to the first data encoded in a second output protocol (e.g. I2C, SPI, UART), the second output protocol different from the media communication protocol; and providing the first data in the second output protocol as input to the DAC.

[0012] The method may comprise: receiving an input electrical signal at an analog to digital converter (ADC) of the source-measurement peripheral device; converting theinput electrical signal from an analog format to second data encoded in the media communication protocol; and communicating the second data from the sourcemeasurement peripheral device to the portable computing device.

[0013] Converting the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in the media communication protocol may be performed by the ADC.

[0014] Converting the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in the media communication protocol may comprise: converting, at the ADC, the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in a second input protocol (e.g. I2C, SPI, UART), the second input protocol different from the media communication protocol; and converting the second data encoded in the second input protocol to the media communication protocol.

[0015] The second input protocol may be the same as the second output protocol.

[0016] The method may comprise: transmitting, from the portable computing device to at least one remote computing system, the second data; analyzing, at the at least one remote computing system, the second data to generate control feedback data for the source-measurement peripheral device; and transmitting, from the at least one remote computing system to the portable computing device, the control feedback data.

[0017] The method may comprise: using, at the portable computing device, the control feedback data to at least partially control the source-measurement peripheral device by the portable computing device.

[0018] The method may comprise: receiving, at an additional peripheral device, additional output data from the portable computing device; converting the additional output data from the portable computing device to the media communication protocol; using the additional output data in the media communication protocol to control operation of an additional digital to analog converter (DAC) in response to the additional data, to thereby cause the additional DAC to output an additional analog output signal corresponding to the additional output data; outputting additional output electrical power from the additional peripheral device based at least in part on the additional analog output signal; receiving an additional input electrical signal at an additional analog to digital converter (ADC) of the additional peripheral device; converting the additional input electrical signal to additional input data encoded in themedia communication protocol; and communicating the additional input data from the additional peripheral device to the portable computing device.

[0019] The source-measurement peripheral device may comprise a dongle which houses the DAC and the ADC. The dongle may be detachably couplable to one or both of a main body of the source-measurement peripheral device and the portable computing device.

[0020] The ADC may be an audio ADC. The DAC may be an audio DAC.

[0021] The ADC and the DAC may be part of an audio connector or audio jack (e.g. a 3.5mm aux jack).

[0022] The first data may encode at least one of: power, voltage, current, and electrical charge. Outputting the output electrical power from the sourcemeasurement peripheral device based at least in part on the analog output signal corresponding to the first data may comprise outputting the output electrical power to have the at least one of: the power, the voltage, the current and the electrical charge encoded by the first data.

[0023] The input electrical signal may correspond to at least one of: measured power from an external system, measured voltage from the external system, measured current from the external system, and measured electrical charge from the external system. The second data encodes the at least one of: the measured power, the measured voltage, the measured current, and the measured electrical charge.

[0024] The second output protocol and / or the second input protocol may be one of: I2C; SPI; and UART.

[0025] Another aspect of the invention provides a method for implementing a sourcemeasurement system. The method comprises: receiving an input electrical signal at an analog to digital converter (ADC) of a source-measurement peripheral device, the input electrical signal corresponding to at least one of: measured power from an external system, measured voltage from the external system, measured current from the external system, and measured electrical charge from the external system; converting the input electrical signal from an analog format to first data encoded in a media communication protocol (e.g. I2S) where the first data encodes the at least one of: the measured power, the measured voltage, the measured current, and the measured electrical charge; and communicating the first data from the source-measurement peripheral device to a portable computing device.

[0026] The method may comprise any of the features, combinations of features and / or sub-combinations of features of any other aspects herein.

[0027] Another aspect of the inventions provides a method of using a mobile computing device to control an electrical power source-measurement peripheral and to thereby provide an electrical power source-measurement system, the method comprising: generating an analog first electrical characteristic control signal in the mobile computing device on a first audio output channel of the mobile computing device; generating an analog second electrical characteristic control signal in the mobile computing device on a second audio output channel of the mobile computing device; communicating the first and second electrical characteristic control signals from the mobile computing device to the source-measurement peripheral using the first and second audio output channels respectively; and using the analog first electrical characteristic control signal and the analog second electrical characteristic control signal to control the source-measurement peripheral to cause the sourcemeasurement peripheral to output, to an external system, an output electrical signal comprising a first electrical characteristic and a second electrical characteristic corresponding to the analog first electrical characteristic control signal and the analog second electrical characteristic control signal respectively.

[0028] The method may comprise: receiving, at the source-measurement peripheral, an analog input electrical signal from the external system; and communicating the analog input electrical signal from the source-measurement peripheral to the mobile computing device on an audio input channel of the mobile computing device.

[0029] The analog first electrical characteristic control signal may represents one of: a power desired to be provided to the external system, a voltage desired to be provided to the external system, a current desired to be provided to the external system, and an electrical charge desired to be provided to the external system. The analog second electrical characteristic control signal may represent another one of: the power desired to be provided to the external system, the voltage desired to be provided to the external system, the current desired to be provided to the external system, and the electrical charge desired to be provided to the external system.

[0030] The analog input signal may correspond to at least one of: measured powerfrom the external system; measured voltage from the external system; measured current from the external system; and measured charge from the external system.

[0031] The method may comprise any of the features, combinations of features and / or sub-combinations of features of any of the aspects herein.

[0032] Another aspect of the invention provides a source-measurement system comprising: a source-measurement peripheral device comprising a digital to analog converter (DAC); and a portable computing device comprising a controller configured to communicate first data from the portable computing device to the sourcemeasurement peripheral device. The source-measurement peripheral is configured (e.g. by comprising a suitably configured processor and / or controller or otherwise) to: convert the first data from the portable computing device to a media communication protocol (e.g. I2S); use the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of the DAC in response to the first data, to thereby cause the DAC to output an analog output signal corresponding to the first data; and output output electrical power based at least in part on the analog output signal corresponding to the first data.

[0033] The source-measurement peripheral may be configured to use the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of the DAC in response to the first data by providing the first data in the media communication protocol as input to the DAC.

[0034] The source-measurement peripheral may be configured to use the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of the DAC in response to the first data by: converting the first data in the media communication protocol to the first data encoded in a second output protocol (e.g. I2C, SPI, UART), the second output protocol different from the media communication protocol; and providing the first data in the second output protocol as input to the DAC.

[0035] The source-measurement peripheral device may comprise an analog to digital converter (ADC) and may be configured to: receive an input electrical signal at the ADC; convert the input electrical signal from an analog format to second data encoded in the media communication protocol; and communicate the second data from the source-measurement peripheral device to the portable computing device.

[0036] The source-measurement peripheral device may be configured to convert theinput electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in the media communication protocol by converting the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in the media communication protocol at the ADC.

[0037] The source-measurement peripheral device may be configured to convert the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in the media communication protocol by: converting, at the ADC, the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in a second input protocol (e.g. I2C, SPI, UART), the second input protocol different from the media communication protocol; and converting the second data encoded in the second input protocol to the media communication protocol.

[0038] The second input protocol may be the same as the second output protocol.

[0039] The portable computing device may be configured to: transmit the second data to at least one remote computing system; and receive control feedback data from the at least one remote computing system. The at least one remote computing system may generate the control feedback data based on the second data.

[0040] The portable computing device may be configured to at least partially control the source-measurement peripheral device using the control feedback data.

[0041] The system may comprise: an additional peripheral device comprising an additional digital to analog converter (DAC) and an additional analog to digital converter (ADC). The additional peripheral device may be configured (e.g. by comprising a suitably configured processor and / or controller or otherwise) to: receive, at the additional peripheral device, additional output data from the portable computing device; convert the additional output data from the portable computing device to the media communication protocol; use the additional output data in the media communication protocol to control operation of the additional DAC in response to the additional data, to thereby cause the additional DAC to output an additional analog output signal corresponding to the additional output data; output additional output electrical power from the additional peripheral device based at least in part on the additional analog output signal; receiving an additional input electrical signal at the additional ADC; convert the additional input electrical signal from analog format to additional input data encoded in the media communication protocol; communicate the additional input data from the additional peripheral device to the portable computingdevice.

[0042] The source-measurement peripheral device may comprise a dongle which houses the DAC and the ADC. The dongle may be detachably couplable to one or both of a main body of the source-measurement peripheral device and to the portable computing device.

[0043] The ADC may be an audio ADC. The DAC may be an audio DAC.

[0044] The ADC and the DAC may be part of an audio connector or jack (e.g. a 3.5mm aux jack).

[0045] The first data may encode at least one of: power, voltage, current, and electrical charge. Outputting the output electrical power from the sourcemeasurement peripheral device based at least in part on the analog output signal corresponding to the first data may comprise outputting the output electrical power to have the at least one of: the power, the voltage, the current and the electrical charge encoded by the first data.

[0046] The input electrical signal may correspond to at least one of: measured power from an external system, measured voltage from the external system, measured current from the external system, and measured electrical charge from the external system. The second data may encode the at least one of: the measured power, the measured voltage, the measured current, and the measured electrical charge.

[0047] The media communication protocol may be I2S.

[0048] The second output protocol and / or the second input protocol may be one of: I2C; SPI; and UART.

[0049] Another aspect of the invention provides a source-measurement system comprising: a source measurement peripheral device comprising an analog to digital converter (ADC); and a portable computing device. The source-measurement peripheral is configured (e.g. by comprising a suitably configured processor and / or controller or otherwise) to: receive an input electrical signal at the ADC where the input electrical signal comprises at least one of: measured power from an external system, measured voltage from the external system, measured current from the external system, and measured electrical charge from the external system; convert the input electrical signal from an analog format to first data encoded in a mediacommunication protocol (e.g. I2S) where the second data encodes the at least one of: the measured power, the measured voltage, the measured current, and the measured electrical charge; and communicate the first data from the source-measurement peripheral device to the portable computing device.

[0050] The system may comprise any of the features, combinations of features and / or subcombinations of features of any other aspect herein.

[0051] Another aspect of the invention provides an electrical power sourcemeasurement system comprising: a source-measurement peripheral; and a mobile computing device comprising a controller configured to: generate an analog first electrical characteristic signal control in the mobile computing device on a first audio output channel of the mobile computing device; generate an analog second electrical characteristic control signal in the mobile computing device on a second audio output channel of the mobile computing device; and communicate the first and second electrical characteristic control signals from the mobile computing device to the source-measurement peripheral using the first and second audio output channels respectively. The source-measurement peripheral is configured (e.g. by comprising a suitably configured processor and / or controller or otherwise) to output, to an external system, an output electrical signal comprising a first electrical characteristic and a second electrical characteristic corresponding to the analog first electrical characteristic control signal and the analog second electrical characteristic control signal respectively.

[0052] The source-measurement peripheral may be configured to: receive an analog input electrical signal from the external system; and communicate the analog input electrical input signal from the source-measurement peripheral to the mobile computing device on an audio input channel of the mobile computing device.

[0053] The analog first electrical characteristic control signal may represent one of: a power desired to be provided to the external system, a voltage desired to be provided to the external system, a current desired to be provided to the external system, and an electrical charge desired to be provided to the external system. The analog second electrical characteristic control signal may represent another one of: the power desired to be provided to the external system, the voltage desired to be provided to the external system, the current desired to be provided to the external system, and the electrical charge desired to be provided to the external system.

[0054] The analog input signal may correspond to at least one of: measured power from the external system; measured voltage from the external system; measured current from the external system; and measured charge from the external system.

[0055] The system may comprise any of the features, combinations of features and / or sub-combinations of features of any other claim herein.

[0056] Another aspect of the invention provides a source-measurement system comprising: a portable computing device configured to generate at least one control signal encoded in a media communication protocol; a source-measurement peripheral device comprising a controller and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC); wherein the source-measurement peripheral device is configured to receive the at least one control signal encoded in the media communication protocol from the portable computing device; wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the DAC in response to the at least one control signal to cause the DAC to output an analog output signal corresponding to the at least one control signal; and wherein the source-measurement peripheral device is configured to output electrical power based at least in part on the analog output signal.

[0057] Another aspect of the invention provides a source-measurement system comprising: a portable computing device configured to generate at least one control signal encoded in a media communication protocol; and a source-measurement peripheral device comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the source-measurement peripheral device based at least in part on the at least one control signal.

[0058] Another aspect of the invention provides a method for implementing a sourcemeasurement system, the method comprising: generating, by a portable computing device, at least one control signal encoded in a media communication protocol; communicating the at least one control signal to a source-measurement peripheral device comprising a controller and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC); controlling, by the controller of the source-measurement peripheral device, operation of the DAC in response to the at least one control signal to cause the DAC to output an analog output signal; and outputting electrical power from the source-measurement peripheral device based at least in part on the analog output signal.

[0059] Another aspect of the invention provides a method for implementing a source-measurement system, the method comprising: generating, by a portable computing device, at least one control signal encoded in a media communication protocol; and controlling, by a controller of a source measurement peripheral device, operation of the source measurement peripheral device based at least in part on the at least one control signal.

[0060] Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus having any new and inventive feature, combination of features, or sub-combination of features as described herein.

[0061] Another aspect of the invention provides a method having any new and inventive steps, acts, combination of steps and / or acts or sub-combination of steps and / or acts as described herein.

[0062] The above aspects may be used independently of one another. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of the above aspects may be used together.

[0063] Further aspects and example embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and / or described in the following description.

[0064] It is emphasized that the invention relates to all combinations of the above features, even if these are recited in different claims.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0065] The accompanying drawings illustrate non-limiting example embodiments of the invention.

[0066] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary prior art sourcemeasurement device.

[0067] Figure 2 is a timing diagram of the I2S protocol used for digital audio data communications.

[0068] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical power sourcemeasurement system according to an example embodiment.

[0069] Figure 4 schematically illustrates the measurement side of a sourcemeasurement system according to an example embodiment where the sourcemeasurement peripheral comprises a single ADC.

[0070] Figure 4A represents one exemplary technique for multiplexing data from aplurality of measured analog signals (e.g. measured analog voltage and current signals ) into a single analog measurement signal which may be used in conjunction with the Figure 4 source-measurement system.

[0071] Figure 4B represents one exemplary technique for multiplexing data from a pair of measured analog signals (e.g. measured analog voltage and current signals ) into a single analog measurement signal which may be used in conjunction with the Figure 4 source-measurement system.

[0072] Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical power sourcemeasurement system according to another example embodiment.

[0073] Figure 5A schematically illustrates a method for converting I2C / SPI input data into I2S data according to a particular embodiment. Figure 5B schematically illustrates a method for converting I2S data into I2C / SPI data according to a particular embodiment.

[0074] Figure 6 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical power sourcemeasurement system according to another example embodiment.

[0075] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical power sourcemeasurement system according to another example embodiment.

[0076] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical power sourcemeasurement system according to another example embodiment.Detailed Description

[0077] Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive sense.

[0078] Aspects of the invention provide systems and methods for implementing and controlling source-measurement systems (and other similar systems). Some such systems and methods comprise using a media communication protocol (e.g. I2S) to communicate characteristics of an output signal to be sourced to an external systemand / or to encode characteristics of an input signal measured from the external system. Some such systems and methods make use of a portable computing device (e.g. mobile phones, tablets, laptops and / or the like) to control the operation of ADCs and / or DACs and a source-measurement peripheral to thereby provide an electrical power source-measurement system. Since portable computing devices such as mobile phones are ubiquitous in modern society, some of the components of prior art source-measurement devices can be eliminated, thereby providing sourcemeasurement peripherals of reduced size, reduced cost and increased portability. Peripheral devices that can be controlled in this manner are not limited to electrical power source-measurement devices. In some embodiments, any suitable peripheral device comprising ADCs and / or DACs can be controlled using the media communication protocol of an external computing device. The provision of power to an analog circuit, exemplified by, but not limited to a source-measurement system, may be facilitated through an external power source. Such an external power source may comprise a battery or, additionally or alternatively, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, if the electrical characteristic capabilities of the USB port are sufficient for a particular application.

[0079] One media communication protocol popular with mobile phones and tablets is the Inter-Integrated circuit Sound (I2S, also known as l2S and IIS) protocol which is normally used to communication pulse code modulated (PCM) audio data between integrated circuits. Figure 2 is a timing diagram of the I2S protocol which includes three lines: a serial clock (SCK) line; a word select (WS) line; and a serial data (SD) line. Typically, when used for digital audio data, the SD line caries time-multiplexed left channel and right channel audio samples and the WS line dictates whether the SD line data is left channel data (WS=0) or right channel data ((WS=1). In this manner, I2S permits two channels of data to be carried on the same data SD line.

[0080] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical power sourcemeasurement system 110 according to an example embodiment. Like the prior art source-measurement device 10 described above, source-measurement system 110 outputs electrical power to external system 30 and / or measures electrical characteristics from an external system 30. In the Figure 3 embodiment, sourcemeasurement system 110 outputs electrical power to external system 30 via source / sense unit 126 (more particularly, via source unit 126A, which is shownseparately from sense unit 126B in the Figure 3 schematic diagram). In the Figure 3 embodiment, source-measurement system 110 measures electrical characteristics from external system 30 via source / sense unit 126 (more particularly, via sense unit 126B, which is shown separately from source unit 126A in the Figure 3 schematic diagram). Source / sense unit 126 and its components (source unit 126A) and sense unit (126B) may be similar to source / sense unit 26 of prior art source-measurement system 10 described above.

[0081] Electrical power source-measurement system 110 comprises a portable computing device 132 and a source-measurement peripheral 134. Portable computing device 132 may comprise a mobile phone, tablet, laptop and / or other computing device and, in some embodiments, need not strictly be portable - for example, computing device 132 may comprise a desktop computer. In some applications, such as where external system 30 operates at higher voltage and / or current than can be transmitted by USB, source-measurement system 110 comprises an optional power source 120. Power source 120 may comprise any suitable source of power, including, by way of non-limiting example, one or more DC batteries, solar cells, linear power supplies, switch-mode power supplies and / or the like.

[0082] Advantageously, many of the components of prior art source-measurement system 10 are components that are native to portable computing device 132. More specifically, in the Figure 3 source-measurement system 110, controller 112, user interface 114, communication port 116 and display 118 are implemented by portable computing device 132. Typically these components (controller 112, user interface 114, communication port 116 and display 118) are native to portable computing device 132 and may be configured for operation in source-measurement system 10 using suitable software. For example, portable computing device 132 (e.g. controller 112) execute an application which controls the operation of controller 112, user interface 114, communication port 116 and / or display 118 to provide functionality analogous to those of controller 12, user interface 14, communication port 16 and / or display 18 of prior art source-measurement device 10. In some embodiments, controller 112 comprises or otherwise has access to an audio driver 117, which may be implemented in hardware and / or software and may be capable in outputting (and / or receiving) audio data in any protocol suitable for (or native to) portable computing device 132.

[0083] Source-measurement peripheral 134 of the illustrated Figure 3 embodiment comprises: source / sense unit 126 and its components (source unit 126A and sense unit 126B); one or more ADCs 122; and one or more DACs 124. Because sourcemeasurement peripheral 134 does not include a digital controller (e.g. controller 112 is provided as part of portable computing device 132), user interface 114, communication port 116 and / or display 118, source-measurement peripheral 134 can be made relatively small when compared to prior art source-measurement device 10.

[0084] Controller 112 of portable computing device 110 controls the operation of ADCs 122 and / or DACs 124 of source-measurement peripheral 134 using a media communication protocol. One non-limiting example of a media communication protocol is the I2S digital audio protocol discussed above. Other exemplary media communication protocols that could be used include the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) protocol, Display Port (DP), Sony / Philips Digital Interface Format (SPDIF), Thunderbolt, Bluetooth, WiFi, Near Field Communication (NFC) and / or the like. In the context of the I2S digital audio protocol, controller 112 of portable computing device 132 may be configured to output the voltage, current and / or other electrical characteristic data (corresponding to the voltage, current and / or other electrical characteristics to be sourced to external system 30) so that DACs 124 receive that electrical characteristic data on the SD line of the I2S protocol. That is, controller 112 may be configured to output this voltage, current and / or other electrical characteristic data so that the electrical characteristic data arrives at DACs 124 as if the voltage, current and / or other electrical characteristic data was digital audio data in accordance with the I2S protocol. Controller 112 (optionally including audio driver 117) may send the electrical characteristic data encoded as if it were transmitting audio data. In an analogous way, controller 112 (optionally including audio driver 117) of portable computing device 132 may be configured to receive measured current, voltage and / or other electrical characteristic data (corresponding to voltage, current and / or other electrical characteristic data sampled from external system 30) that ADCs 122 sends on the SD line of the I2S protocol. That is, controller 112 may be configured to receive this voltage, current and / or other electrical characteristic data as if the voltage, current and / or other electrical characteristic data was digital audio data.

[0085] In some embodiments, ADCs 122 may comprise audio-specific ADCs 122,which are preconfigured to convert analog audio signals to I2S digital audio data. In some embodiments, DACs 124 may comprise audio-specific DACs 124 which are preconfigured to convert I2S digital audio data to analog audio signals. However, when used in source-measurement system 110, ADCs 122 and DACs 124 may be used to carry different data (e.g. voltage data, current data and / or other electrical characteristic data) on the SD line of the I2S protocol. It is not necessary that ADCs 122 or DACs 124 be audio-specific ADCs or DACs. ADCs 122 and / or DACs 124 may generally comprise any suitable ADCs 122 and / or DACs that can be configured (by suitable software or hardware) to handle (output in the case of ADCs 122 or receive in the case of DACs 124) I2S protocol data. For example, in some embodiments, controller 112 of portable computing device 132 can configure ADCs 122 and / or DACs 124 for handling I2S protocol data via suitable control signals 142, 144 which may be communicated via USB connection 136 and USB bridge 138 in a manner similar to source and / or measurement data described in more detail below.

[0086] Controller 112 may be controlled (e.g. by a user via user interface 114 and / or via communication port 116). In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 3, controller 112 (optionally including audio driver 117) of portable computing device 132 may be configured to send a desired voltage, current and / or other electrical characteristic to be sourced to external system 30 to source-measurement peripheral 134 over USB connection 136 in accordance with the USB audio protocol (suitably configured). Voltage and current may be encoded by controller 112 as the right and left audio channels of the USB audio protocol, for example. In some embodiments, other electrical characteristics of the power to be sourced to external system 30 may be additionally or alternatively communicated and such other electrical characteristics may be multiplexed onto the same right and left USB audio channels or may be encoded into additional USB audio channels (for example, with 5.1 audio (6 audio channels) or 7.1 audio (8 channels)). For ease of explanation herein, it may be assumed (without loss of generality) that controller 112 of portable computing device 132 sends the desired voltage to be sourced to external system 30 with 2 channel USB audio on one of the USB audio channels and a desired current to be sourced to external system 30 on an other one of the USB audio channels.

[0087] In the illustrated Figure 3 embodiment, source data (e.g. voltage and current) may be communicated from controller 112 of portable computing device 132 tosource-measurement peripheral 134 via a USB connection 136 in the form of a USB audio protocol. The data from USB connection 136 received at source-measurement peripheral 134 may be handled by a USB bridge 138, where USB bridge converts the USB protocol audio data into I2S protocol audio data and sends the I2S protocol data to DAC124 as I2S protocol source data signal 140. DAC 124 converts the I2S protocol source data signal 140 into one or more analog source control signals 146 which are provided to source unit 126A. As discussed above, source unit 126A may comprise suitable power electronics and signal processing electronics to convert analog source control signals 146 to analog source signals 148 that are output to external system 30.

[0088] In applications where it is desired to source a plurality of analog source signals 148 to external system 30 or where it is desired to control a number of electrical characteristics of the power supplied to external system 30, source-measurement peripheral 134 may comprise a plurality of DACs 124. Controller 112 may then multiplex source data onto the left and right audio channels (in USB audio protocol) or may use other data channels (where available) of the USB audio channel and this USB protocol source data may be converted by USB bridge 138 into a plurality of I2S protocol source data signals 140, each of which may be provided to one or more corresponding DACs 124 and handled as discussed above.

[0089] On the measurement side, measurement unit 126B comprises suitable power electronics and signal processing electronics to process analog measurement signals 150 received from external system 30 (which may depend on the nature of external system 30) and to condition such signals appropriately to provide corresponding analog measurement signals 152 to ADC 122. For example, analog measurement signals 150 and / or analog signals 152 may correspond to a voltage and current measured from external system 30. In some embodiments, other electrical characteristics of external system 30 may additionally or alternatively be measured and may be provided as additional analog measurement signals 150, 152. In applications where it is desired to measure a plurality of analog measurement signals 150, 152 from external system 30, source-measurement peripheral 134 may comprise a plurality of ADCs 122. Analog measurement signals 152 may be provided individually (or in pairs for conversion to right and left I2S audio channels) to any suitable number of ADCs 122.

[0090] For ease of explanation herein, it may be assumed (without loss of generality) that that source-measurement peripheral 134 measures the voltage and current from external system 30 and provides the measured voltage and current to a single ADC 122 as a pair of analog measurement signals 152. ADC 122 then converts these two analog measurement signals 152 into I2S protocol digital measurement data 154. I2S protocol digital measurement data 154 is communicated to controller 112 of portable computing device 132 via USB bridge 138, which converts the I2S protocol digital measurement data 154 to USB audio protocol for transmission via USB connection 136 to controller 112 of portable computing device 132. Once received at controller 112, the USB audio protocol signal corresponding to I2S protocol digital measurement data 154 may be interpreted by controller 112 and / or its audio driver 117 as the digital voltage and current that it is carrying and controller 112 can take suitable action with this voltage and current data - e.g. display waveforms or raw data on display 118, communicate such waveforms or raw data to another system via communication port 116, permit a user to interact with such waveforms or data via user interface 114, upload measured voltage and / or current data to the cloud for advanced analysis using Al algorithms (where insights gained from this Al-based analysis can be fed back into system 110 for enhancing operational efficiency, predicting maintenance needs, optimizing energy consumption, detecting abnormal conditions (e.g. bacteria detection, hazardous gas detection, etc.), implementing suitable control algorithms (e.g. for electrical characteristics sourced to external system by the source side of system 110) and / or the like.

[0091] In some embodiments, the portable computing device 132 transmits data (such as, for example, received measurement data 154, data representing one or more measured characteristics of the source-measurement peripheral 134 (e.g. voltage, current, etc.), etc.) to at least a remote computing system 1000 (such as a cloud-based server or a machine learning engine, for example). The remote computing system 1000 may perform more advanced analysis of the data than the portable computing device 132 is capable of performing. For example, the remote computing system 1000 may perform advanced analysis of the data such as anomaly detection, predictive modeling, pattern recognition, optimization of the data, combinations of two or more thereof, etc. Based on the analysis performed by the remote computing system 1000, the remote computing system 1000 may generate control feedback data for controlling the source-measurement peripheral 134. Thegenerated control feedback data may be transmitted to the portable computing device 132 (or the controller 112 of the portable computing device 132). Based on the received control feedback data, the portable computing device 132 (or the controller 112 of the portable computing device 132) may vary operation of the sourcemeasurement peripheral device 134 (e.g. vary one or more sourcing parameters, cause application of one or more filters, cause initiation of one or more safety protocols, combinations of two or more thereof, etc.). The remote computing system 1000 may include, or be caused to run, at least one machine learning model or machine learning engine. The advanced analysis of the data by the remote computing system 1000 may include at least performing the advance analysis using artificial intelligence (or at least one artificial intelligence based model).

[0092] USB bridge 138 may be configured to send and receive data in any suitable manner that allows both transmission and reception of data in the media communication protocol. In the non-limiting example where I2S is the media communication protocol, USB bridge 138 may have three of its output pins configured to output this I2S output data and three of its input pins configured to receive this I2S input data. In some embodiments, USB bridge 138 may have one or more of its input / output pins configured to be used both for receiving and transmitting according to the I2S protocol. For example, USB bridge 138 may use one pin as WS for both sending and receiving I2S data and a different pin as CLK for both sending and receiving I2S data. In this example, the WS line and the CLK line may be driven by USB bridge 138, ADC 122, a timing clock, or any other control circuit.

[0093] In some applications, power supplied by portable computing device 132 via USB connection 136 is sufficient to source the desired electrical characteristics (e.g. voltage, current, power and / or the like) to external system 30 and / or the measure the desired electrical characteristics from electrical system 30. In such cases, the power for source unit 126A and / or measure unit 126B may be provided by portable computing device 132 using USB connection 136.

[0094] In some applications, however, power supplied by USB connection 136 is insufficient for sourcing the desired electrical characteristics (e.g. voltage, current, power and / or the like) to external system 30 or is insufficient for measuring the desired electrical characteristics from electrical system 30. In such applications, source-measurement system 110 may comprise a power source 120 which maysupply DC power to source unit 126A and / or measure unit 126B. Power source 120 may comprise any suitable source of power, including, by way of non-limiting example, one or more DC batteries, solar cells, linear power supplies, switch-mode power supplies and / or the like. In some embodiments, power source 120 may be connected to source-measurement peripheral vial a 7-pin connection which may include: power supply + (PS+); power supply - (PS-); ground; two sensing pins (Se1 , Se2 which may correspond to analog measurement signals 150 that are sampled from external system 30) and two sourcing pins (So1 , So2, which may correspond to analog source signals 148 that are output to external system 30).

[0095] The Figure 3 source-measurement system 110 is described as comprising both a source system for sourcing analog signals 148 to external system 30 and a measurement system for measuring analog signals 150 from external system 30. It will be appreciated, however, a source system could be provided with DACs 124 and source unit 126A to source analog signals 148 without requiring the components of measurement system (e.g. ADCs 122 or measure unit 126B). Similarly, a measurement system could be provided with ADCs 122 and measure unit 126B without requiring the components of source system (e.g. DACs 124 or source unit 126A).

[0096] The description of the Figure 3 embodiment provided above assumes that ADC 122 comprises an ADC unit capable of handling a pair of input analog channels (e.g. analog measurement signals 152). In some applications, audio-specific ADCs (or other ADCs) may only be capable of handling a single analog input. This is the case, for example on some sound cards which provide stereo (right and left) audio outputs, while accepting a mono (microphone) audio input. In such cases, measured analog signals 150 may be multiplexed into a single analog signal 152 to permit measurement of multiple electrical characteristics of external system 30.

[0097] In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 3, the controller 112 is described and illustrated as a component of the portable computing device 132. However, this is not necessary. In some embodiments, the controller 112 is a component of the sourcemeasurement peripheral 134 (e.g. the source-measurement peripheral 134 includes the controller 112). In some embodiments, the portable computing device 132 includes a first controller 112 and the source-measurement peripheral 134 includes a second controller 112. The portable computing device 132 may communicate withand / or control a controller 112 of the source-measurement peripheral 134. In some embodiments, the portable computing device 132 generates, or uses, one or more control signals encoded with a media communication protocol (such as I2S, for example) to communicate with and / or control at least one controller of the sourcemeasurement peripheral 134.

[0098] The one or more control signals encoded with a media communication protocol may encode (or transmit) one or more binary (or logic) signals (e.g. signals representing digital highs and / or lows) from the portable computing device 132 to the source-measurement peripheral 134. The one or more binary signals may, for example, be received and decoded by the controller 112 of the source-measurement peripheral 134. In response to the received one or more binary signals, the controller 112 of the source-measurement peripheral 134 may, for example, control an output relay of the source-measurement peripheral 134, switch one or more current and / or voltage stage relays, controller one or more other components of the sourcemeasurement peripheral 134, combinations of two or more thereof, etc.

[0099] The source-measurement peripheral 134 comprising at least one controller 112 may for example, at least partially facilitate:• the source-measurement peripheral 134 (or the at least one controller 112 of the source-measurement peripheral 134) at least partially controlling (or managing) output of electrical power from the source-measurement peripheral 134 (such as by at least partially managing one or more relays of the sourcemeasurement peripheral 134, for example);• the source-measurement peripheral 134 implementing one or more safetyfeatures (such as the controller 112 causing one or more components to react in response to a detected safety concern or violation (e.g. the controller 112 of the source-measurement peripheral 134 shutting down output of electrical power from the source-measurement peripheral 134 if a short circuit is detected, for example);• the source-measurement peripheral 134 comprising one or more general- purpose inputs or outputs (GPIOs) (e.g. the one or more GPIOs may be communicatively connected to the controller 112 of the source-measurement peripheral 134);• combinations of two or more thereof;etc.

[0100] Figure 4 schematically illustrates the measurement side of sourcemeasurement system 210 according to an example embodiment where sourcemeasurement peripheral 234 comprises a single ADC 222. In many respects, sourcemeasurement system 210 is similar to source-measurement system 110 described herein and this description focuses on the differences between source-measurement system 210 and source-measurement system 110. Features of source-measurement system 210 that are analogous to features of source-measurement system 110 are provided with the same reference numerals incremented by 100. The source side of source-measurement system 210 is not shown in Figure 4, but may be considered to be substantially similar to the source side of source-measurement system 110.

[0101] Source-measurement system 210 differs from source-measurement system 110 primarily in that source-measurement peripheral 234 comprises only a single ADC 222 that can only handle a single analog signal 252. Because of these limitations of ADC 222, source-measurement peripheral 234 comprises a multiplexer 256 operable to multiplex multiple analog measurement signals 258 received from measure unit 226B into a single analog signal 252 that can be handled by ADC 222. Multiplexer 256 may be suitably configured using a control input 260. In some embodiments, control input 260 may be provided by controller 212 of portable computing device 232 via USB connection 236, although this is not necessary. In some embodiments, control input 260 may be provided by a digital timer which acts in a manner similar to a clock signal. In some embodiments, control input 260 may be provided by measurement unit 226. In some embodiments, multiplexer 256 does not require control input 260.

[0102] In one particular embodiment, measure unit 226B measures a voltage and current from external system 30 as a pair of analog measurement signals 250 which are respectively conditioned and provided to multiplexer as a pair of analog signals 262A, 262B (one of which corresponds to a voltage measurement and the other of which corresponds to a current measurement). The analog voltage and current signals 262A, 262B are then multiplexed into a single analog signal 252 which is provided to ADC 222, which converts analog signal 222 into a I2S protocol digital measurement signal 254 that carries both measured current and measured voltage information. I2S protocol digital measurement signal 254 may then be treated in thesame manner as I2S protocol digital measurement data 154 described above.

[0103] Any suitable scheme may be used by multiplexer 256 to multiplex analog voltage and current signals 262A, 262B into a single analog measurement signal 252. A number of non-limiting multiplexing schemes are described herein. In one nonlimiting multiplexing scheme, a distinct signature may be provided for each electrical characteristic (e.g. voltage and current). Such an example is shown in Figure 4A, which shows a signal incorporating a voltage signature 602 followed (in time) by voltage data 604, followed by a current signature 606 and then current data 608. Signatures (e.g. voltage signature 602 and current signature 606) could be added to analog measurement signal 252 by mutiplexer 256 and converted to I2S digital format (I2S protocol digital measurement signal 254) by ADC 222 as a single stream of data, which, when received by controller 212 of portable computing device 232 via USB connection 236, could be interpreted as voltage data 604 and current data 608.

[0104] In another example embodiments, one polarity may be assigned to a particular type of data (e.g. voltage) and the opposing polarity may be assigned to a second type of data (e.g. current). This scheme is shown, for example in Figure 4B, where voltage data 610 is assigned positive polarity (e.g. in analog measurement signal 252) by multiplexer 256 and current data 612 is similarly assigned negative polarity. The polarities of voltage data 610 itself may be assigned relative to a positive reference value Vref, so that controller 212 of portable computing device 232 can discern positive voltage data 610 from negative voltage data 610. Similarly, the polarities of current data 612 itself may be assigned relative to a negative reference value / ref, so that controller 212 of portable computing device 232 can discern positive current data 612 from negative current data 612.

[0105] In some embodiments, the two exemplary multiplexing techniques described above could be combined to permit communication of four measured analog signals 262 (e.g. an additional two signals in addition to analog measurement signals 262A, 262B shown in Figure 4). For example, other analog signals 262 could be used to provide charge measurement, power measurement and / or the like.

[0106] In some embodiments, such as where ADCs 222 are audio-specific ADCs 222, ADCs 222 may comprise DC blocking filters. In some embodiments, portable computing device 232 may have a DC blocking filter built into the hardware, for example in audio driver 217 or controller 212. In such cases the measurement signalscan be converted from voltage to frequency (e.g. using suitable voltage-to-frequency conversion techniques) prior to transmission. For example, in one non-limiting embodiment, measurement unit 226 may output analog signals 262A, 262B with frequency modulation to indicate measurement levels. For example, where a reading of analog measurement signals 250 would output as a reading of n V, measurement unit 226 may produce output analog signals 262A, 262B as an n kHz waveform.

[0107] In other respects, source-measurement system 210 may be similar to that of source-measurement system 110 and / or any of the other source-measurement systems described herein and similar components of source-measurement system 210 may perform similar functions to similar components of source-measurement system 110 and / or any of the other source-measurement system described herein.

[0108] Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical power sourcemeasurement system 310 according to another example embodiment. In many respects, source-measurement system 310 is similar to source-measurement system 110 described herein and this description focuses on the differences between sourcemeasurement system 310 and source-measurement system 110. Features of sourcemeasurement system 310 that are analogous to features of source-measurement system 110 are provided with the same reference numerals incremented by 200.

[0109] Source-measurement system 310 differs from source-measurement system 110 primarily in that ADCs 322 and DACs 324 operate using a protocol different from I2S (e.g. I2C and / or SPI communication protocol), which is conventional for ADCs 322 and DACs 324 of electrical power source-measurement systems and / or for ADCs 322 and DACs 324 of other, non-audio, peripheral hardware devices. Like sourcemeasurement system 110 described above, controller 312 of portable communication device 332 is configured to send and receive communications to / from USB hub 338 of source-measurement peripheral 334 over USB connection 336 using the USB audio protocol. USB bridge 338 converts source data from USB audio protocol to I2S protocol source data 340 and I2S protocol measurement data 354 to USB audio protocol. Source-measurement peripheral 334 of the Figure 5 embodiment differs from source-measurement peripheral 134 in that source-measurement peripheral 334 comprises a I2S bridge 364. I2S bridge 364 may be implemented by one or more suitably configured microprocessors, PLAs, FPGAs and / or the like capable of performing the functions described herein. I2S bridge 364 is configured to convert theI2S protocol source data signal 340 from USB bridge 338 into I2C or SPI protocol source signal 366 which is in turn output to DACs 324, which convert the I2C or SPI protocol source signal 366 to analog source control signals 346, which are conditioned by source unit 326A to provide analog output source signals 348 to external system 30. As discussed above in the context of source-measurement system 110, I2S protocol source data signal 340 may carry data which comprises, by way of non-limiting example, a desired source voltage and a desired source current to source to external system 30 although other data to be output to externals system 30 may additional or alternatively be included in I2S protocol source data signal 340.

[0110] On the measurement side, measure unit 326B receives analog measurement signals 350 from external system 30 and conditions analog measurement signals 350 before providing them to ADCs 322 as analog measurement signals 352. ADCs 322 convert analog measurement signals 352 to I2C or SPI protocol digital measurement data 368. I2S bridge 364 converts I2S / SPI protocol digital measurement data 368 to I2S protocol measurement data signal 354. USB bridge 338 functions in a manner similar to USB bridge 138 to convert I2S protocol measurement data 354 to USB audio protocol and to provide same to portable computing device 332 over USB connection 336.

[0111] Advantageously, ADCs 322 and DACs 324 of the illustrated Figure 5 sourcemeasurement unit 310 are not limited to being audio ADCs or DACs or I2S protocol ADCs or DACs and can comprise one or more higher performance ADCs 322 and / or DACs 324 that operate using an I2C and / or SPI communication protocol. In some embodiments, higher performance ADCs 322 and DACs 324 which operate according to the I2C and / or SPI protocol may provide improved characteristics when working with DC components of signals.

[0112] In some embodiments, controller 312 of portable computing device 332 can configure ADCs 322 and / or DACs 324 for handing I2C / SPI protocol data via suitable control signals 342, 344 which may be communicated via USB connection 336 and USB bridge 338 in a manner similar to source and / or measurement data 340, 354. In some embodiments, controller 312 of portable computing device 332 can configure I2S bridge 364 for converting I2S data to I2C / SPI data and / or vice versa via suitable control signals 370 which may be communicated via USB connection 336 and USB bridge 338 in a manner similar to source and / or measurement data 340, 354. In someembodiments, ADCs 322 and / or DACs 324 may be configured via suitable control signals (not shown) generated by one or more suitably configured microprocessors, PLAs, FPGAs and / or the like built into USB bridge 338 and / or I2S bridge 364.

[0113] Figure 5A schematically illustrates a method 400 for converting I2C / SPI input data (e.g. I2C / SPI protocol measurement data 368) into I2S data (e.g. I2S protocol measurement data 354) according to a particular embodiment. Method 400 may be performed by I2S bridge 364 to convert I2C / SPI protocol measurement data 368 into I2S protocol measurement data 354 in source-measurement system 310, for example.

[0114] Method 400 starts in block 410 which involves initializing the hardware performing the I2C / SPI to I2S conversion. In the description provided herein, it is assumed without loss of generality that method 400 is performed by I2S bridge 364 of the Figure 5 source-measurement system 310. Initializing the hardware in block 410 may comprise configuring the pins for the serial clock (SCK), word select (WS) and serial data (SD) as output pins (see Figure 2), configuring I2S bridge 364 to receive data (e.g. I2C / SPI data 368) to be transmitted, initializing the I2S protocol parameters (such as sample rate, bit depth and / or the like), initializing a buffer to hold data to be transmitted and / or the like.

[0115] Method 400 then proceeds to block 415 which involves receiving and buffering data (e.g. I2C / SPI data 368) to be transmitted. Block 420 involves a check as to whether there is enough data in the transmit buffer to begin transmission. If the block 420 inquiry is negative, then method 400 returns to block 415 to wait for more data. If the block 420 inquiry is positive, then method 400 starts a data transmission loop 425 which begins in block 430. Block 430 involves setting the WS pin high (to send data on the I2S left audio channel) or low (to send data on the I2S right audio channel). Transmission loop 425 of method 400 then proceeds to block 435 which involves, for each bit in a sample: (i) setting the SD (data) pin according to the bit value; and (ii) toggling the SCK (clock) pin, which could be a rising edge or falling edge depending on the I2S parameters. Transmission loop 425 of method 400 then proceeds to block 440 which involves an inquiry into whether there are more samples of data (e.g. I2C / SPI data 368) to be transmitted in the transmit buffer. If the block 440 inquiry is positive, then transmission Ioop425 loops back to block 430 to transmit another sample. In the block 440 inquiry is negative, then method 400 exits form transmissionloop 425 to wait for more data in block 415.

[0116] Figure 5B schematically illustrates a method 900 for converting I2S input data (e.g. I2S protocol source data 340) to I2C data (e.g. I2C protocol source data 366) according to a particular example embodiment. Similar methods could be used for converting I2S input data to other protocols, such as SPI, UART and / or the like. Method 900 may be performed by I2S bridge 364 to convert I2S protocol source data 340 into I2C protocol source data 366 in source-management system 310, for example.

[0117] Method 900 starts in block 905 which involves initializing the hardware performing the I2S to I2C conversion. In the description provided herein, it is assumed without loss of generality that method 900 is performed by I2S bridge 364 of the Figure 5 source-measurement system 310. Initializing the hardware in block 905 may comprise configuring pins for use in the I2S protocol (e.g. serial clock (SCK), word select (WS) and serial data (SD) (see Figure 2)) and I2C protocol (e.g. I2C serial clock (SCL) and I2C serial data (SDA)), initializing the I2S and I2C protocol parameters (such as sample rate, bit depth and / or the like), initializing left and right input registers, initializing an I2C ready flag, initializing an I2C address for both the left and right DACs and / or the like.

[0118] Method 900 then proceeds into receive I2S stage 960. Block 910 waits for the SCK pin to change states. Block 915 checks the current state of the SCK pin, if it is low the SD pin may be between states and is not ready to be read, so method 900 returns to block 910. If the SCK pin is high the SD pin has valid data to be read. Block 920 checks if the incoming SD pin data belongs in the left or right data input register by performing a logical XOR between the I2C ready flag (discussed below) and the current state of the WS pin (e.g. block 920 performs WS ® flag). If the result of block 920 is a logic TRUE, block 925B left-shifts the right sample register and adds the current SD value to that register. If the result of block 920 is a logic FALSE, block 925A left-shifts the left sample register and adds the current SD value to that register.

[0119] Method 900 the enters I2C ready check stage 970, where it is confirmed if either the left or right data register currently contains a complete piece of data to be transmitted to a DAC on the I2C bus. If the flag is not set, method 900 proceeds to block 935 which checks if the current state of the WS pin is the same as the previous state of the WS pin. If the WS pin has changed between SCK cycles, I2S protocoldictates that one more bit of data will be received to the current register (i.e. left or right), then the receiving registers will change (i.e. right or left). If WS is the same as the previous reading method 900 returns to block 910 and restarts receive I2S stage 960. If the WS is different from the previous, block 940 changes the flag state to a logical TRUE, returns to block 910 and restarts receive I2S stage 960.

[0120] Returning to block 930, if the flag is true, the last bit of data has been entered into an I2S input register and the value of that register is ready to be sent to a DAC. Block 945 changes the flag to a logical FALSE to prevent either sending the same data twice, or sending data from a register that is still receiving data. Method 900 then goes to send I2C stage 965. Block 965 determines which of the left or right I2S register contains the data that is ready to be sent to a DAC. This will be the opposite of the register that is being written to in receive I2S stage 960. If WS is high, block 955A begins to send the value in the left sample to the address of the left DAC using the I2C protocol. If WS is low, block 955B begins to send the value in the right sample to the address of the right DAC using the I2C protocol. Once I2S communication has been initiated, method 900 continually loops back to either block 955A or 955B vai blocks 957 and 959 based on an inquiry (block 957) as to whether there is more data in the buffer. If the block 957 inquiry is negative, then method 900 returns to block 910 and restarts receive I2S stage 960 while the I2C message is sent.

[0121] In some embodiments, I2C and / or SPI protocol source data 366 and / or I2C and / or SPI protocol measurement data 368 may be provided in another protocol different from I2S (e.g. UART, CAN and / or the like). In other respects, sourcemeasurement system 310 may be similar to that of source-measurement system 110 and / or any of the other source-measurement systems described herein and similar components of source-measurement system 310 may perform similar functions to similar components of source-measurement system 110 and / or any of the other source-measurement system described herein.

[0122] Figure 6 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical power sourcemeasurement system 510 according to another example embodiment. In many respects, source-measurement system 510 is similar to source-measurement system 110 described herein and this description focuses on the differences between sourcemeasurement system 510 and source-measurement system 110. Features of sourcemeasurement system 510 that are analogous to features of source-measurementsystem 110 are provided with the same reference numerals incremented by 400.

[0123] Source-measurement system 510 differs from source-measurement system 110 primarily in that source-measurement system 510 comprises a primary sourcemeasurement peripheral 534 and an additional peripheral device 578 which may comprise one or more ADCs 580A and / or one or more DACs 580B (together, additional peripheral device ADCs and / or DACs 580 or, for brevity, ADCs and / or DCAs 580). Primary source-measurement peripheral 534 of the illustrated Figure 6 embodiment is substantially similar to source measurement peripheral 134 (Figure 3) described herein and comprises one or more ADCs 522 and / or one or more DACs 524 that operate using a I2S protocol. In other embodiments (not shown), primary source-measurement peripheral 534 may be substantially similar to source measurement peripheral 334 (Figure 5) described herein and may comprise an I2S bridge and one or more ADCs and / or one or more DACs that operate according to an I2C and / or SPI protocol or may be substantially similar to any of the other sourcemeasurement peripherals described herein.

[0124] Where additional peripheral device ADCs and / or DACs 580 operate using an I2C and / or SPI protocol (or other non-l2S protocol, such as UART, CAN and / or the like), such ADCs and / or DACs 580 output to and / or receive data from an I2S bridge 574 in a manner similar to ADCs 322 and DACs 324 of source-measurement peripheral 334 in the Figure 5 embodiment. More specifically, controller 512 of portable communication device 532 may be configured to send and receive communications to / from USB bridge 538 of primary source-measurement peripheral 534 over USB connection 536 using the USB audio protocol. USB bridge 538 may convert between USB audio protocol and I2S protocol (and vice versa) to provide output I2S protocol signal(s) 572A (and to accommodate I2S protocol input signals 572B). I2S bridge 574 may be similar to I2S bridge 364 of the Figure 5 sourcemeasurement system 310 and may convert between output / input I2S protocol signals 572A, 572B and output / input I2C or SPI protocol signals 576A, 576B. I2S bridge 574 may be a component of (e.g. may be physically located in) primary sourcemeasurement peripheral 534 and / or additional peripheral device 578, although I2S bridge 574 is shown separately in the Figure 6 illustration for clarity.

[0125] I2S bridge 574 is configured to convert the I2S protocol output data signal 572A from USB bridge 538 into I2C or SPI protocol source signal 576A which is inturn output to additional peripheral device DACs 580B, which convert the I2C or SPI protocol source signal 576A to one or more analog signal(s) which may be used by additional peripheral device 578 in any suitable capacity. By way of non-limiting example, such analog signals could comprise voltage, current, power output, electrical charge, and / or some other electrical characteristic signal (e.g. in the case where additional peripheral device 578 is also a source-measurement peripheral).

[0126] On the input side, one or more analog input signals (e.g. sampled voltage, current and / or some other electrical characteristic signal in the case where additional peripheral device 578 is also a source-measurement peripheral) may be provided to additional peripheral device ADCs 580B of additional peripheral device 576. ADCs 580B may convert such analog signals to I2C or SPI protocol input digital data 576B. I2S bridge 574 converts I2S / SPI protocol input digital data 576B to I2S protocol input data signal 572B. USB bridge 574 functions in a manner similar to USB bridge 138 to provide I2S protocol input data 572A to portable computing device 532 over USB connection 536 using the USB audio protocol.

[0127] In the illustrated embodiment, additional peripheral device 578 is shown as drawing power from the same power source 520 as primary peripheral device 534. This is not necessary. In some embodiments, additional peripheral device 576 may additionally or alternatively comprise its own source of power which may be integrated into additional peripheral device 576 or which may be separately embodied into a separate power source (not shown) which may be similar to any of the power sources described herein. In some embodiments, additional peripheral device 576 may draw power from portable computing device 532 (e.g. via USB connection 536) in a manner similar to that described elsewhere herein in relation to sourcemeasurement system 110.

[0128] In other respects, source-measurement system 510 may be similar to that of source-measurement system 110 and / or any of the other source-measurement systems described herein and similar components of source-measurement system 510 may perform similar functions to similar components of source-measurement system 110 and / or any of the other source-measurement system described herein.

[0129] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical power sourcemeasurement system 710 according to another example embodiment. In many respects, source-measurement system 710 is similar to source-measurement system110 described herein and this description focuses on the differences between sourcemeasurement system 710 and source-measurement system 110. Features of sourcemeasurement system 710 that are analogous to features of source-measurement system 110 are provided with the same reference numerals incremented by 600.

[0130] Source-measurement system 710 differs from source-measurement system 110 primarily in that portable computing device 732 of source-measurement system 710 comprises: integral audio ADCs 722 which convert analog input (measurement) signal 752 to I2S input (measurement) data 754 and provide same to controller 712; and integral audio DACs 724 convert I2S output (source) control data 740 from controller 112 into analog output (source) control signal 746. Analog input measurement signals 752 may be received at portable computing device 732 from source-measurement peripheral 734 over an analog connector 737 such as an audio jack (e.g. a mini audio jack or “aux” connector). Similarly, output (source) control signals 746 may be provided from portable computing device 732 to sourcemeasurement peripheral 734 over an analog connector 737 such as an audio jack (e.g. a mini audio or “aux” connector). A conventional mini-audio connector 737 comprises: a pair of analog outputs (corresponding to right and left channels of an audio signal) which may accommodate analog output (source) control signals 746 corresponding to voltage and current, by way of non-limiting example; and an analog input (corresponding to a microphone input) which may accommodate analog input (measurement) signal 752, which may correspond to multiplexed voltage and current signals (see Fig. 4), by way of non-limiting example.

[0131] Since the output (source) control signals 746 provided to source-measurement peripheral 734 and the input (measurement) signals 752 provided from sourcemeasurement peripheral 734 are in analog format, source-measurement peripheral 734 may be limited to source unit 726A and sense unit 726B which may be similar to source unit 126A and measure unit 126B of source-measurement system 110 described above.

[0132] In other respects, source-measurement system 710 may be similar to that of source-measurement system 110 and / or any of the other source-measurement systems described herein and similar components of source-measurement system 710 may perform similar functions to similar components of source-measurement system 110 and / or any of the other source-measurement system described herein.

[0133] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical power sourcemeasurement system 810 according to another example embodiment. In many respects, source-measurement system 810 is similar to source-measurement system 110 described herein and this description focuses on the differences between sourcemeasurement system 810 and source-measurement system 110. Features of sourcemeasurement system 810 that are analogous to features of source-measurement system 110 are provided with the same reference numerals incremented by 700.

[0134] Source-measurement system 810 differs from source-measurement system 110 primarily in that USB bridge 838, the one or more ADCs 822 and the one or more DACs 824 are located in a “dongle” or suitable connector 861 , such that sourcemeasurement peripheral 834 comprises the dongle 861 which houses USB bridge 838 ADCs 822 and DACs 824 and a main body 834A which houses source unit 826A and measurement unit 826B. Main body 834A of source-measurement peripheral 834 receives and outputs analog signals 846, 852. In this respect, main body 834A of source-measurement peripheral 834 may be similar to source measurement peripheral 734. While not expressly shown in the Figure 8 illustration, dongle 861 may be connected to source-measurement peripheral 834 using an analog connector such as an audio jack (e.g. a mini audio or “aux” connector) which may be similar to analog connector 737 described elsewhere herein. Dongle 861 may be detachably coupled to one or both of portable computing device 832 and main body 834A of sourcemeasurement unit 834.

[0135] In other respects, source-measurement system 810 may be similar to that of source-measurement system 110 and / or any of the other source-measurement systems described herein and similar components of source-measurement system 810 may perform similar functions to similar components of source-measurement system 110 and / or any of the other source-measurement system described herein.

[0136] It is emphasized that any aspect and / or feature of the technology described herein may be a standalone aspect and / or feature (e.g. used individually). Additionally, or alternatively, two or more aspects and / or features may be combined together.

[0137] Where a component (e.g. a software module, processor, assembly, device, circuit, etc.) is referred to herein, unless otherwise indicated, reference to that component (including a reference to a “means”) should be interpreted as including asequivalents of that component any component which performs the function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), including components which are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0138] Embodiments of the invention may be implemented using specifically designed hardware, configurable hardware, programmable data processors configured by the provision of software (which may optionally comprise “firmware”) capable of executing on the data processors, special purpose computers or data processors that are specifically programmed, configured, or constructed to perform one or more steps in a method as explained in detail herein and / or combinations of two or more of these. Examples of specifically designed hardware are: logic circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), large scale integrated circuits (“LSIs”), very large scale integrated circuits (“VLSIs”), and the like. Examples of configurable hardware are: one or more programmable logic devices such as programmable array logic (“PALs”), programmable logic arrays (“PLAs”), and field programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”). Examples of programmable data processors are: microprocessors, digital signal processors (“DSPs”), embedded processors, graphics processors, math coprocessors, general purpose computers, server computers, cloud computers, mainframe computers, computer workstations, and the like. For example, one or more data processors in a control circuit for a device may implement methods as described herein by executing software instructions in a program memory accessible to the processors.

[0139] Processing may be centralized or distributed. Where processing is distributed, information including software and / or data may be kept centrally or distributed. Such information may be exchanged between different functional units by way of a communications network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or the Internet, wired or wireless data links, electromagnetic signals, or other data communication channel.

[0140] In some embodiments, the invention may be partially implemented in software. For greater clarity, “software” includes any instructions executed on a processor, and may include (but is not limited to) firmware, resident software, microcode, code for configuring a configurable logic circuit, applications, apps, and the like. Both processing hardware and software may be centralized or distributed (or acombination thereof), in whole or in part, as known to those skilled in the art. For example, software and other modules may be accessible via local memory, via a network, via a browser or other application in a distributed computing context, or via other means suitable for the purposes described above.

[0141] Software and other modules may reside on servers, workstations, personal computers, tablet computers, and other devices suitable for the purposes described herein.Interpretation of Terms

[0142] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims:• “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”;• “connected”, “coupled”, or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof;• “herein”, “above”, “below”, and words of similar import, when used to describe this specification, shall refer to this specification as a whole, and not to any particular portions of this specification;• “or”, in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list;• the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” also include the meaning of any appropriate plural forms. These terms (“a”, “an”, and “the”) mean one or more unless stated otherwise;• “and / or” is used to indicate one or both stated cases may occur, for example A and / or B includes both (A and B) and (A or B);• “approximately” when applied to a numerical value means the numerical value ± 10%;• where a feature is described as being “optional” or “optionally” present or described as being present “in some embodiments” it is intended that the present disclosure encompasses embodiments where that feature is presentand other embodiments where that feature is not necessarily present and other embodiments where that feature is excluded. Further, where any combination of features is described in this application this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for the use of exclusive terminology such as “solely,” “only” and the like in relation to the combination of features as well as the use of “negative” limitation(s)” to exclude the presence of other features; and• “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or indicating the number of indicated technical features.

[0143] Words that indicate directions such as “vertical”, “transverse”, “horizontal”, “upward”, “downward”, “forward”, “backward”, “inward”, “outward”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “back”, “top”, “bottom”, “below”, “above”, “under”, and the like, used in this description and any accompanying claims (where present), depend on the specific orientation of the apparatus described and illustrated. The subject matter described herein may assume various alternative orientations. Accordingly, these directional terms are not strictly defined and should not be interpreted narrowly.

[0144] Embodiments of the invention may be implemented using specifically designed hardware, configurable hardware, programmable data processors configured by the provision of software (which may optionally comprise “firmware”) capable of executing on the data processors, special purpose computers or data processors that are specifically programmed, configured, or constructed to perform one or more steps in a method as explained in detail herein and / or combinations of two or more of these. Examples of specifically designed hardware are: logic circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), large scale integrated circuits (“LSIs”), very large scale integrated circuits (“VLSIs”), and the like. Examples of configurable hardware are: one or more programmable logic devices such as programmable array logic (“PALs”), programmable logic arrays (“PLAs”), and field programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”). Examples of programmable data processors are: microprocessors, digital signal processors (“DSPs”), embedded processors, graphics processors, math coprocessors, general purpose computers, server computers, cloud computers, mainframe computers, computer workstations, and the like. For example, one or more data processors in a control circuit for a device may implement methods asdescribed herein by executing software instructions in a program memory accessible to the processors.

[0145] Processing may be centralized or distributed. Where processing is distributed, information including software and / or data may be kept centrally or distributed. Such information may be exchanged between different functional units by way of a communications network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or the Internet, wired or wireless data links, electromagnetic signals, or other data communication channel.

[0146] For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative examples may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and / or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times.

[0147] In addition, while elements are at times shown as being performed sequentially, they may instead be performed simultaneously or in different sequences. It is therefore intended that the following claims are interpreted to include all such variations as are within their intended scope.

[0148] In some embodiments, the invention at least partially may be implemented in software. For greater clarity, “software” includes any instructions executed on a processor, and may include (but is not limited to) firmware, resident software, microcode, and the like. Both processing hardware and software may be centralized or distributed (or a combination thereof), in whole or in part, as known to those skilled in the art. For example, software and other modules may be accessible via local memory, via a network, via a browser or other application in a distributed computing context, or via other means suitable for the purposes described above.

[0149] Where a component (e.g. a software module, processor, assembly, device, circuit, etc.) is referred to above, unless otherwise indicated, reference to that component (including a reference to a “means”) should be interpreted as including as equivalents of that component any component which performs the function of thedescribed component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), including components which are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0150] Specific examples of systems, methods and apparatus have been described herein for purposes of illustration. These are only examples. The technology provided herein can be applied to systems other than the example systems described above. Many alterations, modifications, additions, omissions, and permutations are possible within the practice of this invention. This invention includes variations on described embodiments that would be apparent to the skilled addressee, including variations obtained by: replacing features, elements and / or acts with equivalent features, elements and / or acts; mixing and matching of features, elements and / or acts from different embodiments; combining features, elements and / or acts from embodiments as described herein with features, elements and / or acts of other technology; and / or omitting combining features, elements and / or acts from described embodiments.

[0151] Various features are described herein as being present in “some embodiments”. Such features are not mandatory and may not be present in all embodiments. Embodiments of the invention may include zero, any one or any combination of two or more of such features. This is limited only to the extent that certain ones of such features are incompatible with other ones of such features in the sense that it would be impossible for a person of ordinary skill in the art to construct a practical embodiment that combines such incompatible features. Consequently, the description that “some embodiments” possess feature A and “some embodiments” possess feature B should be interpreted as an express indication that the inventors also contemplate embodiments which combine features A and B (unless the description states otherwise or features A and B are fundamentally incompatible).

[0152] Where a range for a value is stated, the stated range includes all sub-ranges of the range. It is intended that the statement of a range supports the value being at an endpoint of the range as well as at any intervening value to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit of the range, as well as any subrange or sets of sub ranges of the range unless the context clearly dictates otherwise or any portion(s) of the stated range is specifically excluded. Where the stated range includes one or both endpoints of the range, ranges excluding either or both of those included endpoints are alsoincluded in the invention.

[0153] Certain numerical values described herein are preceded by "about". In this context, "about" provides literal support for the exact numerical value that it precedes, the exact numerical value ±5%, as well as all other numerical values that are near to or approximately equal to that numerical value. Unless otherwise indicated a particular numerical value is included in “about” a specifically recited numerical value where the particular numerical value provides the substantial equivalent of the specifically recited numerical value in the context in which the specifically recited numerical value is presented. For example, a statement that something has the numerical value of “about 10” is to be interpreted as: the set of statements:• in some embodiments the numerical value is 10;• in some embodiments the numerical value is in the range of 9.5 to 10.5; and if from the context the person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that values within a certain range are substantially equivalent to 10 because the values with the range would be understood to provide substantially the same result as the value 10 then “about 10” also includes:• in some embodiments the numerical value is in the range of C to D where C and D are respectively lower and upper endpoints of the range that encompasses all of those values that provide a substantial equivalent to the value 10.

[0154] Specific examples of systems, methods and apparatus have been described herein for purposes of illustration. These are only examples. The technology provided herein can be applied to systems other than the example systems described above. Many alterations, modifications, additions, omissions, and permutations are possible within the practice of this invention. This invention includes variations on described embodiments that would be apparent to the skilled addressee, including variations obtained by: replacing features, elements and / or acts with equivalent features, elements and / or acts; mixing and matching of features, elements and / or acts from different embodiments; combining features, elements and / or acts from embodiments as described herein with features, elements and / or acts of other technology; and / or omitting combining features, elements and / or acts from described embodiments.

[0155] As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any other described embodiment(s) without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0156] Any aspects described above in reference to apparatus may also apply to methods and vice versa.

[0157] Any recited method can be carried out in the order of events recited or in any other order which is logically possible. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative examples may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and / or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, simultaneously or at different times.

[0158] Various features are described herein as being present in “some embodiments”. Such features are not mandatory and may not be present in all embodiments. Embodiments of the invention may include zero, any one or any combination of two or more of such features. All possible combinations of such features are contemplated by this disclosure even where such features are shown in different drawings and / or described in different sections or paragraphs. This is limited only to the extent that certain ones of such features are incompatible with other ones of such features in the sense that it would be impossible for a person of ordinary skill in the art to construct a practical embodiment that combines such incompatible features. Consequently, the description that “some embodiments” possess feature A and “some embodiments” possess feature B should be interpreted as an express indication that the inventors also contemplate embodiments which combine features A and B (unless the description states otherwise or features A and B are fundamentally incompatible). This is the case even if features A and B are illustrated in different drawings and / or mentioned in different paragraphs, sections or sentences.

[0159] It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations,additions, omissions, and sub-combinations as may reasonably be inferred. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:1 . A method for implementing a source-measurement system, the method comprising: receiving, at a source-measurement peripheral device, first data from a portable computing device; converting the first data from the portable computing device to a media communication protocol (e.g. I2S); using the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of a digital to analog converter (DAC) in response to the first data, to thereby cause the DAC to output an analog output signal corresponding to the first data; outputting output electrical power from the source-measurement peripheral device based at least in part on the analog output signal corresponding to the first data.

2. The method of claim 1 or any other claim herein wherein using the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of the DAC in response to the first data comprises providing the first data in the media communication protocol as input to the DAC.

3. The method of claim 1 or any other claim herein wherein using the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of the DAC in response to the first data comprises: converting the first data in the media communication protocol to the first data encoded in a second output protocol (e.g. I2C, SPI, UART), the second output protocol different from the media communication protocol; providing the first data in the second output protocol as input to the DAC.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3 or any other claim herein further comprising: receiving an input electrical signal at an analog to digital converter (ADC) of the source-measurement peripheral device; converting the input electrical signal from an analog format to second dataencoded in the media communication protocol; communicating the second data from the source-measurement peripheral device to the portable computing device.

5. The method of claim 4 or any other claim herein wherein converting the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in the media communication protocol is performed by the ADC.

6. The method of claim 4 or any other claim herein wherein converting the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in the media communication protocol comprises: converting, at the ADC, the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in a second input protocol (e.g. I2C, SPI, UART), the second input protocol different from the media communication protocol; converting the second data encoded in the second input protocol to the media communication protocol.

7. The method of claim 6 or any other claim herein wherein the second input protocol is the same as the second output protocol.

8. The method of any one of claims 4 to 7 or any other claim herein further comprising: transmitting, from the portable computing device to at least one remote computing system, the second data; analyzing, at the at least one remote computing system, the second data to generate control feedback data for the source-measurement peripheral device; and transmitting, from the at least one remote computing system to the portable computing device, the control feedback data.

9. The method of claim 8 or any other claim herein further comprising using, at the portable computing device, the control feedback data to at least partially control the source-measurement peripheral device by the portable computing device.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9 or any other claim herein further comprising: receiving, at an additional peripheral device, additional output data from the portable computing device; converting the additional output data from the portable computing device to the media communication protocol; using the additional output data in the media communication protocol to control operation of an additional digital to analog converter (DAC) in response to the additional data, to thereby cause the additional DAC to output an additional analog output signal corresponding to the additional output data; outputting additional output electrical power from the additional peripheral device based at least in part on the additional analog output signal; receiving an additional input electrical signal at an additional analog to digital converter (ADC) of the additional peripheral device; converting the additional input electrical signal to additional input data encoded in the media communication protocol; communicating the additional input data from the additional peripheral device to the portable computing device.11 . The method of any one of claims 1 to 10 or any other claim herein wherein the source-measurement peripheral device comprises a dongle which houses the DAC and the ADC and which is detachably couplable to one or both of a main body of the source-measurement peripheral device and the portable computing device.

12. The method of any one of claims 1 to 11 or any other claim herein where the ADC is an audio ADC and the DAC is an audio DAC.

13. The method of any one of claims 1 to 12 or any other claim herein where the ADC and the DAC are part of an audio connector or audio jack (e.g. a 3.5mm aux jack).

14. The method of any one of claims 1 to 13 or any other claim herein where: the first data encodes at least one of: power, voltage, current, and electrical charge; and outputting the output electrical power from the source-measurement peripheral device based at least in part on the analog output signal corresponding to the first data comprises outputting the output electrical power to have the at least one of: the power, the voltage, the current and the electrical charge encoded by the first data.

15. The method of any one claims 1 to 14 or any other claim herein where: the input electrical signal corresponds to at least one of: measured power from an external system, measured voltage from the external system, measured current from the external system, and measured electrical charge from the external system; and the second data encodes the at least one of: the measured power, the measured voltage, the measured current, and the measured electrical charge.

16. The method of any one of claims 1 to 15 or any other claim herein where the media communication protocol is I2S.

17. The method of any one of 1 to 16 or any other claim herein where the second output protocol and / or the second input protocol is one of: I2C; SPI; and UART.

18. A method for implementing a source-measurement system, the method comprising:receiving an input electrical signal at an analog to digital converter (ADC) of a source-measurement peripheral device, the input electrical signal corresponding to at least one of: measured power from an external system, measured voltage from the external system, measured current from the external system, and measured electrical charge from the external system; converting the input electrical signal from an analog format to first data encoded in a media communication protocol (e.g. I2S) where the first data encodes the at least one of: the measured power, the measured voltage, the measured current, and the measured electrical charge; and communicating the first data from the source-measurement peripheral device to a portable computing device.

19. The method of claim 18 comprising any of the features, combinations of features and / or sub-combinations of features of any other claim herein.

20. A method of using a mobile computing device to control an electrical power source-measurement peripheral and to thereby provide an electrical power sourcemeasurement system, the method comprising: generating an analog first electrical characteristic control signal in the mobile computing device on a first audio output channel of the mobile computing device; generating an analog second electrical characteristic control signal in the mobile computing device on a second audio output channel of the mobile computing device; communicating the first and second electrical characteristic control signals from the mobile computing device to the source-measurement peripheral using the first and second audio output channels respectively; using the analog first electrical characteristic control signal and the analog second electrical characteristic control signal to control the source-measurement peripheral to cause the source-measurement peripheral to output, to an external system, an output electrical signal comprising a first electrical characteristic and a second electrical characteristic corresponding to the analog first electricalcharacteristic control signal and the analog second electrical characteristic control signal respectively.21 . The method of claim 20 or any other claim herein further comprising: receiving, at the source-measurement peripheral, an analog input electrical signal from the external system; communicating the analog input electrical signal from the sourcemeasurement peripheral to the mobile computing device on an audio input channel of the mobile computing device.

22. The method of any one of claims 20 to 21 or any other claim herein where: the analog first electrical characteristic control signal represents one of: a power desired to be provided to the external system, a voltage desired to be provided to the external system, a current desired to be provided to the external system, and an electrical charge desired to be provided to the external system; the analog second electrical characteristic control signal represents another one of: the power desired to be provided to the external system, the voltage desired to be provided to the external system, the current desired to be provided to the external system, and the electrical charge desired to be provided to the external system.

23. The method of any one claims 20 to 22 or any other claim herein where the analog input signal corresponds to at least one of: measured power from the external system; measured voltage from the external system; measured current from the external system; and measured charge from the external system.

24. The method of any one of claims 20 to 23 or any other claim herein comprising any of the features, combinations of features and / or sub-combinations of features of any of the claims herein.

25. A source-measurement system comprising:a source-measurement peripheral device comprising a digital to analog converter (DAC); a portable computing device comprising a controller configured to communicate first data from the portable computing device to the sourcemeasurement peripheral device; the source-measurement peripheral configured (e.g. by comprising a suitably configured processor and / or controller or otherwise) to: convert the first data from the portable computing device to a media communication protocol (e.g. I2S); use the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of the DAC in response to the first data, to thereby cause the DAC to output an analog output signal corresponding to the first data; output output electrical power based at least in part on the analog output signal corresponding to the first data.

26. The system of claim 25 or any other claim herein wherein the sourcemeasurement peripheral is configured to use the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of the DAC in response to the first data by providing the first data in the media communication protocol as input to the DAC.

27. The system of claim 25 or any other claim herein wherein the sourcemeasurement peripheral is configured to use the first data in the media communication protocol to control operation of the DAC in response to the first data by: converting the first data in the media communication protocol to the first data encoded in a second output protocol (e.g. I2C, SPI, UART), the second output protocol different from the media communication protocol; providing the first data in the second output protocol as input to the DAC.

28. The system of any one of claims 25 to 27 or any other claim herein where the source-measurement peripheral device comprises an analog to digital converter (ADC) and is configured to: receive an input electrical signal at the ADC;convert the input electrical signal from an analog format to second data encoded in the media communication protocol; communicate the second data from the source-measurement peripheral device to the portable computing device.

29. The system of claim 28 or any other claim herein wherein the sourcemeasurement peripheral device is configured to convert the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in the media communication protocol by converting the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in the media communication protocol at the ADC.

30. The system of claim 28 or any other claim herein wherein the sourcemeasurement peripheral device is configured to convert the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in the media communication protocol by: converting, at the ADC, the input electrical signal from the analog format to the second data encoded in a second input protocol (e.g. I2C, SPI, UART), the second input protocol different from the media communication protocol; converting the second data encoded in the second input protocol to the media communication protocol.31 . The system of claim 30 or any other claim herein where the second input protocol is the same as the second output protocol.

32. The system of any one of claims 28 to 31 or any other claim herein wherein the portable computing device is further configured to: transmit the second data to at least one remote computing system; and receive control feedback data from the at least one remote computing system.

33. The system of claim 32 or any other claim herein wherein the portable computing device is further configured to at least partially control the sourcemeasurement peripheral device using the control feedback data.

34. The system of any one of claims 25 to 33 or any other claim herein further comprising an additional peripheral device comprising an additional digital to analog converter (DAC) and an additional analog to digital converter (ADC), the additional peripheral device configured (e.g. by comprising a suitably configured processor and / or controller or otherwise) to: receive, at the additional peripheral device, additional output data from the portable computing device; convert the additional output data from the portable computing device to the media communication protocol; use the additional output data in the media communication protocol to control operation of the additional DAC in response to the additional data, to thereby cause the additional DAC to output an additional analog output signal corresponding to the additional output data; output additional output electrical power from the additional peripheral device based at least in part on the additional analog output signal; receiving an additional input electrical signal at the additional ADC; convert the additional input electrical signal from analog format to additional input data encoded in the media communication protocol; communicate the additional input data from the additional peripheral device to the portable computing device.

35. The system of any one of claims 25 to 34 or any other claim herein wherein the source-measurement peripheral device comprises a dongle which houses the DAC and the ADC and which is detachably couplable to one or both of a main body of the source-measurement peripheral device and to the portable computing device.

36. The system of any one of claims 25 to 35 or any other claim herein where the ADC is an audio ADC and the DAC is an audio DAC.

37. The system of any one of claims 25 to 36 or any other claim herein where the ADC and the DAC are part of an audio connector or jack (e.g. a 3.5mm aux jack).

38. The system of any one of claims 25 to 37 or any other claim herein where: the first data encodes at least one of: power, voltage, current, and electrical charge; and outputting the output electrical power from the source-measurement peripheral device based at least in part on the analog output signal corresponding to the first data comprises outputting the output electrical power to have the at least one of: the power, the voltage, the current and the electrical charge encoded by the first data.

39. The system of any one claims 25 to 38 or any other claim herein where: the input electrical signal corresponds to at least one of: measured power from an external system, measured voltage from the external system, measured current from the external system, and measured electrical charge from the external system; and the second data encodes the at least one of: the measured power, the measured voltage, the measured current, and the measured electrical charge.

40. The system of any one of claims 25 to 39 or any other claim herein where the media communication protocol is I2S.41 . The system of any one of 25 to 40 or any other claim herein where the second output protocol and / or the second input protocol is one of: I2C; SPI; and UART.

42. A source-measurement system comprising: a source measurement peripheral device comprising an analog to digital converter (ADC); a portable computing device; the source-measurement peripheral configured (e.g. by comprising a suitably configured processor and / or controller or otherwise) to: receive an input electrical signal at the ADC where the input electrical signal comprises at least one of: measured power from an external system, measured voltage from the external system, measuredcurrent from the external system, and measured electrical charge from the external system; convert the input electrical signal from an analog format to first data encoded in a media communication protocol (e.g. I2S) where the second data encodes the at least one of: the measured power, the measured voltage, the measured current, and the measured electrical charge; and communicate the first data from the source-measurement peripheral device to the portable computing device.

43. The system of claim 42 comprising any of the features, combinations of features and / or subcombinations of features of any other claim herein.

44. An electrical power source-measurement system comprising: a source-measurement peripheral; a mobile computing device, the mobile computing device comprising a controller configured to: generate an analog first electrical characteristic signal control in the mobile computing device on a first audio output channel of the mobile computing device; generate an analog second electrical characteristic control signal in the mobile computing device on a second audio output channel of the mobile computing device; communicate the first and second electrical characteristic control signals from the mobile computing device to the source-measurement peripheral using the first and second audio output channels respectively; wherein the source-measurement peripheral is configured (e.g. by comprising a suitably configured processor and / or controller or otherwise) to output, to an external system, an output electrical signal comprising a first electrical characteristic and a second electrical characteristic corresponding to the analog first electrical characteristic control signal and the analog second electrical characteristic control signal respectively.

45. The system of claim 44 or any other claim herein, wherein the sourcemeasurement peripheral is configured to: receive an analog input electrical signal from the external system; communicate the analog input electrical input signal from the sourcemeasurement peripheral to the mobile computing device on an audio input channel of the mobile computing device.

46. The system of any one of claims 44 to 45 or any other claim herein where: the analog first electrical characteristic control signal represents one of: a power desired to be provided to the external system, a voltage desired to be provided to the external system, a current desired to be provided to the external system, and an electrical charge desired to be provided to the external system; the analog second electrical characteristic control signal represents another one of: the power desired to be provided to the external system, the voltage desired to be provided to the external system, the current desired to be provided to the external system, and the electrical charge desired to be provided to the external system.

47. The system of any one claims 44 to 46 or any other claim herein where the analog input signal corresponds to at least one of: measured power from the external system; measured voltage from the external system; measured current from the external system; and measured charge from the external system.

48. The system of any one of claims 44 to 47 or any other claim herein comprising any of the features, combinations of features and / or sub-combinations of features of any other claim herein.

49. A source-measurement system comprising: a portable computing device configured to generate at least one control signal encoded in a media communication protocol;a source-measurement peripheral device comprising a controller and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC); wherein the source-measurement peripheral device is configured to receive the at least one control signal encoded in the media communication protocol from the portable computing device; wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the DAC in response to the at least one control signal to cause the DAC to output an analog output signal corresponding to the at least one control signal; and wherein the source-measurement peripheral device is configured to output electrical power based at least in part on the analog output signal.

50. A source-measurement system comprising: a portable computing device configured to generate at least one control signal encoded in a media communication protocol; and a source-measurement peripheral device comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the source-measurement peripheral device based at least in part on the at least one control signal.51 . A method for implementing a source-measurement system, the method comprising: generating, by a portable computing device, at least one control signal encoded in a media communication protocol; communicating the at least one control signal to a source-measurement peripheral device comprising a controller and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC); controlling, by the controller of the source-measurement peripheral device, operation of the DAC in response to the at least one control signal to cause the DAC to output an analog output signal; and outputting electrical power from the source-measurement peripheral device based at least in part on the analog output signal.

52. A method for implementing a source-measurement system, the method comprising: generating, by a portable computing device, at least one control signal encoded in a media communication protocol; and controlling, by a controller of a source measurement peripheral device, operation of the source measurement peripheral device based at least in part on the at least one control signal.

53. Apparatus having any new and inventive feature, combination of features, or sub-combination of features as described herein.

54. Methods having any new and inventive steps, acts, combination of steps and / or acts or sub-combination of steps and / or acts as described herein.

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