Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Suet Fong Tin

Chee Kiong Fong

Geoffrey Jason Shew

Perry Samuel Stultz

Edward Charles Giaimo, Iii

Michael Roy Volkman

Harjit Singh

J David Egner

Vinicio Manfrini

Gary Alan Tornquist

Michael Donovan Rulien

David Richard Perchilk

Michael Hiett

Duane Martin Evans

Gregory Nielsen

James David Wahl

Donghwi Kim

Timothy Allen Jakoboski

Peter Anthony Atkinson

Jeffrey A Griffis

Spencer B Eggert

Minh Cao Nguyen

Manish Shah

Jeremy Braun

Richard F Johnson

Sujuan Tang

Gianna Marie Morena

David Scott Allaway

Mike Hiett

Cindy-Kay Forsyth-martinez

Marshall T Depue

Kenneth Budoff

Farrukh Kamal

Iii Giaimo Edward C

Edward C Iii Giaimo

Peter Atkinson

A connector for an electronic device is disclosed. The connector includes a housing. The housing includes a leading surface. The leading surface forms a plug opening and a fulcrum spaced away from the plug opening. The connector includes an electronic plug extending through the plug opening away from the leading surface of the housing. The connector includes a pivot providing the electronic plug a range of angular adjustment relative to the leading surface of the housing. The connector includes a bias mechanism biasing the electronic plug to a default position within the range of angular adjustment.

Pivotable connector

A power supply unit (PSU) configured to provide electrical power to an electronic device. The PSU may include a PSU control circuit configured to, via a power meter, detect that electrical power conveyed to the electronic device is above a timer starting threshold. In a first charging mode with a first predetermined charging duration, the PSU control circuit may control the PSU to convey electrical power to the electronic device with a first power ceiling. Subsequently to the first predetermined charging duration elapsing, in a second charging mode with a second predetermined charging duration, the PSU control circuit may control the PSU to convey electrical power to the electronic device with a second power ceiling that is lower than the first power ceiling. Subsequently to the second predetermined charging duration elapsing, the PSU control circuit may control the PSU to return to the first charging mode.

Power supply unit charging modes

The described technology provides an apparatus including a power supply unit (PSU) and a PSU control system stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processor units, the PSU control system encoding computer-executable instructions on the memory for executing on the one or more processor units a computer process, the computer process including receiving internal temperatures of the PSU over a duration of time, determining multiple exponential weighted moving average (EWMAs) of the internal temperature of the PSU for the duration of time, comparing the EWMA with a temperature threshold associated with the duration of time, and based at least in part on determining that EWMA exceeds the temperature threshold associated with the duration of time, limiting the output power of a charger using a charger current limit input to the charger. In an alternative implementation of the technology disclosed herein, the computer process includes receiving an initial condition of the PSU such as sensed PSU power level for a duration of time, determining multiple EWMA of the sensed PSU power level for the duration of time, comparing the EWMA with a sensed power level threshold associated with the duration of time, and based at least in part on determining that EWMA exceeds the sensed power level threshold associated with the duration of time, limiting the output power of a charger using a charger current limit input to the charger.

PSU control based on PSU temperature

A power supply unit provides power to a common output node. The power supply unit includes a first power conversion block electrically coupled to convert the electrical power input to a first output power supply share supplied to the common output node. The first power conversion block is configured to decrease output voltage from the first power conversion block based on output current from the first power conversion block reaching a rated current level. A second power conversion block is electrically coupled to convert the electrical power input to a second output power supply share supplied to the common output node. The second power conversion block is configured with a predesignated open circuit voltage setting and is further configured to contribute the second output power supply share to the common output node based on the output voltage at the common output node decreasing to the predesignated electrical voltage setting.

Dynamic loading for a switching power supply

A power supply includes a power factor correction (PFC) circuit, a PFC bypass circuit, and a decision circuit. The PFC circuit is configured to receive an input current from a power source and, when enabled, reduce current harmonics in the input current by shaping an input sinusoidal current waveform to match a phase and shape of a sinusoidal input voltage waveform. The PFC bypass circuit is configured to bypass the PFC circuit when the PFC circuit is disabled. The decision circuit includes a detection circuit configured to detect an output load of the power supply and is configured to output a PFC enable command based at least in part on the detected output load being greater than or equal to a threshold value and a determination that an input voltage of the power source is greater than or equal to a threshold value.

Power supply with power factor correction bypass

A power supply unit having improved resistance to overheating caused by electrically conductive environmental contamination of electrical contacts of a connector of the power supply unit is disclosed. In one example, the connector includes one or more electrical contacts configured to receive one or more signals that indicate the connector is connected to an electronic device. The power supply unit includes a protection circuit that is configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit from the connector based on detecting that a voltage on at least one of the one or more electrical contacts is greater than an expected/reference voltage. The higher than expected voltage may indicate that electrically conductive contamination has created a short between different electrical contacts of the connector. The power supply unit may be disabled based on detection of the electrically conductive contamination in order to prevent overheating and/or degradation of the connector.

Power supply unit with connector protection circuit

An electrical connector includes a locking plug, a lock actuator, a strain relief, and an exterior mating surface. The locking plug includes a locking mechanism and the lock actuator is coupled to the locking mechanism. The strain relief is coupled to the locking plug and the exterior mating surface is coupled to the locking plug and axially moveable relative to the locking plug to move the lock actuator.

Systems and devices for maintaining an electrical connection

A leakage reduction circuit is described herein that is configured to reduce high voltage leakage that may occur in electrical power step-down scenarios. The leakage reduction circuit, for instance, may be employed in a power adapter for a client device, such as a mobile computing device. For example, a power adapter may include a high voltage alternating current (AC) input, and circuitry for converting the AC input into lower voltage direct current (DC) for output to a client device. Implementations of the disclosed leakage reduction circuit include an arrangement of capacitors that provides a noise return path (e.g., for common mode noise) in a power adapter, while reducing high voltage leakage that may occur from a high voltage AC input to a lower voltage DC output of the power adapter.

Leakage reduction circuit

A power source capable of supplying power to operate electronics of a system is disclosed. In one example, the power source takes advantage of an electrical potential difference between primary and secondary grounds. The power source can reduce system cost and power consumption.

Converting leakage current to DC output

Anti-arcing circuits are described herein that are configured to prevent or substantially mitigate arcing when a power adapter is connected/disconnected from a client device. The anti-arcing circuit restricts power supplied when a connection of a connector of a power adapter to the adapter interface is not fully established. The anti-arcing circuit is further configured to detect when a connection is made and remove the restriction to supply power for operations of the client device. In one approach, the anti-arcing circuit includes two different paths and components associated with a detection mode and operational mode respectively. In the detection mode, power supply is suppressed and a current pulse may be sent to determine if a connection is established. If current is detected, a switch is made to operational mode and power for normal device operations is supplied.

Anti-arcing circuit

A communication system where first and second devices communicate concurrently and bidirectionally over a single wire and a ground. The second device can be a computing device having a powered component which requires a certain power output, for instance, and the first device may be a power supply unit. The second device provides a signal on a control line (the single wire) which is characterized by a frequency, pulse width, duty cycle and/or an amplitude which is associated with a message from the second device. The first device recognizes the message in the signal and invokes a corresponding function, such as by enabling a corresponding power supply. The power supply provides power to the second device via a separate power line. Further, the first device modifies the signal, without adding power, to provide a message from the first device, concurrent with the message from the second device.

Single wire concurrent bi-directional communication for PSU

An external AC power adapter defines a power conversion chamber that retains power conversion circuitry operable to convert an input power to an output power. The power adapter further include an intake chamber and an outlet chamber, both having an aperture that places the respective chamber in fluid communication with the power conversion chamber. Each chamber may have at least one vent to the ambient environment such that an air mover is operable to circulate ambient air through the power conversion chamber. Each chamber may include a guard that deters liquid that has entered the respective chamber from flowing into the associated aperture.

Splash resistant power adapter

Disclosed herein are dual-barrel, connector jack and plug assemblies. Particularly, plug assemblies having two single barrel connectors that are situated side-by-side. Each barrel may include two or more contacts for receiving and transmitting DC IN+ electrical signals. Further, each barrel may include two or more contacts for receiving and transmitting DC IN&#x2212; electrical signals. Inside each barrel connector may be disposed center pins. The barrel connectors may be cylindrically-shaped and configured to mate to a dual-barrel, connector jack assembly as described herein. A bridge component may be disposed between the barrel connectors for preventing the plug assembly from being inserted into the jack assembly in the wrong orientation. The bridge assembly may be shaped to prevent improper insertion into a corresponding aperture of the jack assembly.

Dual-barrel, connector jack and plug assemblies

An external AC power adapter. The adapter includes a housing which, in one embodiment, defines an air inlet compartment, an air outlet compartment and a partially sealed electronics compartment containing electrical components for converting an AC input to a DC output. A blower generates an airflow within the electronics compartment for cooling the electrical components in the electronics compartment. Barriers are located in the air inlet compartment and the air outlet compartment to prevent liquid from entering the electronics compartment.

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Suet Fong Tin