Cable assembly and packaged product

Abstract

Exemplary cable assemblies include a first conductor, a second conductor, and one or more other conductors, and circuitry. The first conductor is configured to receive power from a power source. The second conductor includes a ground conductor. The circuitry is configured to receive a first signal from the power source. At least one of the one or more other conductors, in response to the first signal, is configured to provide a second signal to the power source.

What is claimed are: 
     
         1 . A cable assembly comprising:
 a first conductor configured to receive power from a power source;   a second conductor, the second conductor comprising a ground conductor;   one or more other conductors; and   circuitry configured to receive a first signal from the power source, and wherein at least one of the one or more other conductors, in response to the first signal, is configured to provide a second signal to the power source, the second signal instructing the power source to operate in a particular power supply mode.   
     
     
         2 . The cable assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising comparison circuitry. 
     
     
         3 . The cable assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the comparison circuitry is responsive to the first signal. 
     
     
         4 . The cable assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the comparison circuitry is configured to compare the first signal to a reference. 
     
     
         5 . The cable assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second signal is a current programming signal. 
     
     
         6 . The cable assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second signal is a voltage programming signal. 
     
     
         7 . The cable assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second signal provides information related to a power level. 
     
     
         8 . The cable assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second signal provides information related to a current level. 
     
     
         9 . The cable assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second signal provides information related to a voltage level. 
     
     
         10 . The cable assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second signal provides current, voltage, resistance, or power information. 
     
     
         11 . The cable assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the second signal instructs the power source to operate in one of a plurality of designated power supply modes. 
     
     
         12 . The cable assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical connector is configured to attach to a portable electronic device that includes a battery. 
     
     
         13 . The cable assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising comparison circuitry. 
     
     
         14 . The cable assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the comparison circuitry is responsive to the first signal. 
     
     
         15 . The cable assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the comparison circuitry is configured to compare the first signal to a reference. 
     
     
         16 . The cable assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the second signal comprises a current programming signal. 
     
     
         17 . The cable assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the second signal comprises a voltage programming signal. 
     
     
         18 . A cable assembly comprising:
 a cable;   an electrical connector coupled to the cable, the electrical connector including:
 a first conductor configured to receive power from a power source; 
 a second conductor, the second conductor comprising a ground conductor; 
 a third conductor; and 
 circuitry configured to receive a first signal from the power source, and 
 wherein the third conductor, in response to the first signal, is configured to send information to the power source, the information comprising current, voltage, resistance, or power related information, 
 wherein the information instructs the power source to operate in a particular operating mode; and 
 wherein the electrical connector is configured to attach to a portable electronic device that includes a controller and a battery. 
   
     
     
         19 . The cable assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising comparison circuitry. 
     
     
         20 . The cable assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the comparison circuitry is responsive to the first signal. 
     
     
         21 . The cable assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the comparison circuitry is configured to compare the first signal to a reference. 
     
     
         22 . A packaged product comprising:
 a portable electronic device; and   a cable assembly, the cable assembly comprising:
 a first conductor configured to receive power from a power source; 
 a second conductor, said second conductor being a ground conductor; 
 one or more other conductors; and 
 circuitry configured to receive a first signal from the power source, and 
 wherein at least one of the one or more other conductors, in response to the first signal, is configured to provide a second signal to the power source, the second signal instructing the power source to operate in a particular power supply mode. 
   
     
     
         23 . The packaged product of  claim 22 , wherein the cable assembly further comprises comparison circuitry. 
     
     
         24 . The packaged product of  claim 23 , wherein the comparison circuitry is responsive to the first signal. 
     
     
         25 . The packaged product of  claim 22 , wherein the second signal provides information related to an electrical characteristic. 
     
     
         26 . A packaged product comprising:
 a portable electronic device; and   a cable assembly, the cable assembly comprising:   an electrical connector coupled to the cable, the electrical connector including:
 a first conductor configured to receive power from a power source; 
 a second conductor said second conductor being a ground conductor; 
 a third conductor; and 
 circuitry configured to receive a first signal from the power source, and wherein the third conductor, in response to the first signal, is configured to provide a second signal to the power source, the second signal providing current, voltage, resistance, or power information. 
   
     
     
         27 . The packaged product of  claim 26 , wherein the second signal instructs the power source to operate in a particular power supply mode. 
     
     
         28 . The packaged product of  claim 26 , wherein the portable electronic device includes a battery, and wherein the electrical connector is configured to attach to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         29 . The packaged product of  claim 28 , wherein the portable electronic device is a computing device. 
     
     
         30 . The packaged product of  claim 26 , wherein the cable assembly further comprises comparison circuitry.