Portable Device Power Adapter Recovery Time Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices often malfunction or experience data damage when connected to power adapters with insufficient output power, as existing solutions require redesigning the interface between the device and adapter to determine output specifications, leading to manufacturing and application inconveniences.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that receive a voltage signal from a power adapter, determine if overcurrent protection is executed, calculate the recovering time, and adjust system performance based on this time to match the output power, allowing the device to function with adapters of different specifications without altering the interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional interface pins are disposed to determine power adapter output specification, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower adapter output specification detectionVSAvoidinterface structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power adapter uses its existing interface pins to transmit both power and identification signals. The adapter's own interface structure is utilized to convey output specification information through voltage level encoding, eliminating the need for additional dedicated pins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The identification mechanism changes the voltage parameter of the signal transmitted through existing interface pins. Different voltage levels (e.g., 5V vs. other levels) encode different power adapter output specifications, allowing the device to determine adapter capabilities without hardware modification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the device is connected to a power adapter with insufficient output power, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with different power adaptersVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs preliminary detection of the power adapter's output specification through voltage level sensing before initiating full operation. Based on the detected adapter capability, the device pre-adjusts its power consumption and system performance to ensure safe and reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the power adapter's output characteristics and provides feedback to the control module. Based on this feedback, the device dynamically adjusts its power consumption and operational parameters to maintain reliability when connected to adapters with insufficient output power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the interface structure is redesigned to add communication pins, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of manufacture worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower adapter identification accuracyVSAvoidinterface redesign
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The existing interface pins are designed to serve multiple functions: power transmission and output specification identification. By encoding adapter information in the voltage levels of these existing pins, the solution eliminates the need for separate identification pins, simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2479640B1Portable electronic device and method for adjusting system performance thereof
Publication Date: 2016.04.20 ACER INC
  • EP2479640B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2479640B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2479640B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for adjusting a system performance of a portable electronic device is disclosed. The portable electronic device is connected to a power adapter for obtaining external power supply. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a voltage signal outputted from the power adapter; determining whether to execute an over current protection by the power adapter; calculating a recovering time of the voltage signal if the over current protection is executed by the power adapter, wherein the recovering time is a time period from stopping an output of the voltage signal to restarting the output thereof; and determining an output power of the power adapter to adjust the system performance of the portable electronic device according to the recovering time.