Power Adapter Performance Indicator for Electronic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power adapters of different ratings with the same plug size cannot reliably indicate whether they can provide sufficient power for electronic devices to operate at full or reduced performance levels, and users must wait for the device to boot up to detect any issues, leading to potential performance limitations.
Innovation Solution
A performance level indicator system that uses a combination of hardware and software to monitor the power adapter's voltage and provide immediate feedback through visual or audio indicators, such as LEDs, indicating full, reduced, or no performance levels without requiring the device to be operational.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If power adapters of different power ratings with the same plug size are used interchangeably, then adapter versatility is improved, but the ability to determine sufficient power provision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the electronic device communicates with the power adapter to determine its power rating. The device sends a query signal through the DC connector, receives a response indicating the adapter's power rating, and then determines whether the adapter can support full or reduced performance operation. This feedback loop provides real-time information about power sufficiency, resolving the information loss problem while maintaining adapter interchangeability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary determination of adapter power rating before the device attempts to operate at full performance. By querying the adapter's power rating during the boot process or before high-power operations, the system can proactively identify insufficient power conditions and adjust performance levels accordingly, preventing performance issues rather than detecting them after they occur
2Stability of the object's composition
If the device waits until boot completion to detect power issues, then system stability is improved, but the detection time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs power rating determination during the boot process rather than waiting for boot completion. The query to the power adapter is executed early in the initialization sequence, allowing the system to detect insufficient power conditions before attempting to operate at full performance. This preliminary detection reduces the time users wait for performance issues to be identified while maintaining system stability through controlled performance adjustment
3Productivity
If the device operates at full performance without verifying adapter power rating, then productivity is improved, but the risk of performance degradation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic performance adjustment based on the detected power adapter rating. After determining the adapter's power rating through the query-response mechanism, the system dynamically selects an appropriate performance level: full performance if the adapter rating is sufficient, or reduced performance if the rating is insufficient. This dynamic adaptation ensures reliable operation at the appropriate performance level while maximizing productivity when possible
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device comprises a performance level indicator configured to determine an operational performance level for the electronic device based on a power capability of a power adapter coupled to the electronic device at least while the electronic device is non-operational.