Portable electronic device and packaged product

Abstract

Exemplary portable electronic devices include a housing and a power connector interface. The housing has a power input opening and includes a controller, a rechargeable battery, and battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery. The power input opening is sized to receive an electrical connector of a cable assembly. The power connector interface includes a power conductor, a ground conductor, and other conductors and is configured to attach to the electrical connector of the cable assembly. At least one of the other conductors is configured to receive a signal, and the controller is responsive to the signal and is configured to control the battery charging circuitry.

What is claimed are: 
     
         1 . A portable electronic device comprising:
 a housing that has a power input opening, the housing including a controller, a rechargeable battery, and battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery, the power input opening sized to receive an electrical connector of a cable assembly; and   a power connector interface that includes a power conductor, a ground conductor, and a plurality of other conductors, the power connector interface configured to attach to the electrical connector of the cable assembly;   wherein at least one of the plurality of other conductors is configured to receive a signal;   wherein the controller is responsive to the signal and is configured to control the battery charging circuitry based on the signal; and   wherein the cable assembly includes circuitry that is configured to communicate a second signal.   
     
     
         2 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second signal indicates an electrical characteristic. 
     
     
         3 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the cable assembly includes a digital circuit, a cable, and the electrical connector, the cable connected to a power adapter and to the electrical connector. 
     
     
         4 . The portable electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein the digital circuit is configured to receive power from a power source. 
     
     
         5 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control an amount of power drawn by the battery. 
     
     
         6 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal indicates a type of power supply. 
     
     
         7 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal indicates power characteristics of a power supply coupled to the cable assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the power conductor is configured to supply direct current power. 
     
     
         9 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein data signals are communicated via at least one of the conductors of the power connector interface. 
     
     
         10 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the cable assembly includes a cable and the electrical connector. 
     
     
         11 . A portable electronic device comprising:
 a housing that has a power input opening, the housing including a controller, a rechargeable battery, and battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery, the power input opening sized to receive an electrical connector of a cable assembly; and   a power connector interface that includes a power conductor, a ground conductor, and a third conductor, the power connector interface configured to attach to the electrical connector of the cable assembly;   wherein the third conductor is configured to receive a signal;   wherein the controller is responsive to the signal and is configured to control the battery charging circuitry based on the signal; and   wherein the electrical connector includes a power conductor and a second conductor, the power conductor configured to receive power from a power source and the second conductor configured to send a second signal to the power source.   
     
     
         12 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the second signal instructs the power source to operate in a particular power supply mode. 
     
     
         13 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the second signal is sent via the second conductor to a power adapter. 
     
     
         14 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the second signal is communicated to a power source. 
     
     
         15 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the portable electronic device has a first set of power requirements and wherein the cable assembly is configured to provide first power based on the first set of power requirements and is configured to provide second power to a different electronic device that has a second set of power requirements, the second set of power requirements differing from the first set of power requirements. 
     
     
         16 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , further comprising comparison circuitry, the comparison circuitry configured to compare the signal to a reference. 
     
     
         17 . The portable electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to control an amount of power drawn via the power conductor. 
     
     
         18 . The portable electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is responsive to the comparison circuitry. 
     
     
         19 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the signal indicates power characteristics of a power supply coupled to the cable assembly. 
     
     
         20 . A portable electronic device comprising:
 a housing that has a power input opening, the housing including a controller, a rechargeable battery, and battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery, the power input opening sized to receive an electrical connector of a cable assembly; and   a power connector interface that includes a power conductor, a ground conductor, and a third conductor, the power connector interface configured to attach to the electrical connector of the cable assembly;   wherein the third conductor is configured to receive a signal;   wherein the controller is responsive to the signal and is configured to control the battery charging circuitry based on the signal; and   wherein the electrical connector includes a power conductor and a second conductor, the power conductor configured to receive power from a power source and the second conductor configured to send information to the power source.   
     
     
         21 . The portable electronic device of  claim 20 , wherein the information instructs the power source to operate in a particular operating mode. 
     
     
         22 . The portable electronic device of  claim 20 , wherein the power conductor is configured to supply direct current power. 
     
     
         23 . The portable electronic device of  claim 20 , wherein the cable assembly includes a cable and the electrical connector. 
     
     
         24 . A packaged product comprising:
 a cable assembly; and   a portable electronic device that comprises:
 a housing that has a power input opening, the housing including a controller, a rechargeable battery, and battery charging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable battery, the power input opening sized to receive an electrical connector of the cable assembly; and 
 a power connector interface that includes a power conductor, a ground conductor, and a plurality of other conductors, the power connector interface configured to attach to the electrical connector of the cable assembly; 
 wherein at least one of the plurality of other conductors is configured to receive a signal; 
 wherein the controller is responsive to the signal and is configured to control the battery charging circuitry based on the signal; and 
 wherein the cable assembly includes circuitry that is configured to communicate a second signal. 
   
     
     
         25 . The packaged product of  claim 24 , wherein the second signal indicates a current level, a voltage level, a resistance level, or a power level. 
     
     
         26 . The packaged product of  claim 24 , wherein the cable assembly includes a digital circuit and a cable, the cable connected to a power adapter and to the electrical connector. 
     
     
         27 . The packaged product of  claim 26 , wherein the digital circuit is configured to receive power from a power source. 
     
     
         28 . The packaged product of  claim 24 , wherein the controller is configured to control an amount of power drawn by the battery. 
     
     
         29 . The packaged product of  claim 24 , wherein the signal indicates a type of power supply. 
     
     
         30 . The packaged product of  claim 24 , wherein data signals are communicated via at least one of the conductors of the power connector interface.