Patent ID: 8164932
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: H02M

Abstract:
1. An alternating-current (AC) to direct-current (DC) power converter to which an electronic device may be connected when it is desired to power the electronic device with the power converter, the power converter comprising: a power converter circuit that produces a DC voltage from an AC voltage; an output line to which the electronic device may be connected; a switching circuit coupled between the power converter circuit and the output line that periodically disconnects the power converter circuit from the output line; circuitry that determines whether the electronic device is attached to the output line by monitoring voltage levels on the output line when disconnecting the power converter circuit from the output line with the switching circuit, wherein the power converter circuit comprises a control circuit and wherein the circuitry comprises a monitor that directs the control circuit to place the power converter circuit in a standby mode upon determining that the electronic device has been detached from the output line; an energy storage element that stores energy for powering the monitor when the power converter circuit is in the standby mode; a voltage regulator that receives an energy storage element voltage from the energy storage element and that provides a corresponding modified version of the energy storage element voltage on a voltage regulator output when the voltage regulator output is not loaded by the electronic device; and a path that electrically couples the voltage regulator output to the output line.