Patent · US Expired

Power control system and method for distribution of power to peripheral devices

US6526516B1 · kind B1 · utility

125Cited by
12References
66Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 11, 1998
Grant dateFeb 25, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 11, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F1/26
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a system to which a plurality of devices are connected, each device has heretofore required a connector for an AC adapter and a connector for a signal line. Further, in order to arrange it so that the amount of power supplied to the overall system will not exceed a limit value, it has been required to adjust the amount of power during system use by turning the power source of each device on or off. According to the present invention, a signal line for data transfer and a power line for supply of power in a system connecting a plurality of devices are consolidated in a single cable to make it possible to connect both lines to one connector of each device. The power controller of a certain device acquires the properties of a plurality of devices connected to this device, decides the optimum power distribution and controls the power controllers of each of the other devices.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.