Power supply device, power transferring device and methods thereof

A power supply device which can be connected to an external device and flexibly distribute power is provided. A control circuit of the power supply device, when detecting that a shell connecting point of the power supply device is electrically connected to an external connecting point of a first external device, determines whether a type of the first external device is a load device and records device information related to the first external device in a power routing table. If yes, the control circuit transmits the power routing table to the first external device and then, instructs the power routing circuit to adjust a switch thereof according to a path table returned from the first external device so as to power the first external device. A power transferring device, a power supply method and a power transferring method are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 106116968, filed on May 23, 2017. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The invention is directed to a power supply device, a power transferring device and methods thereof capable of forming a power network.

Description of Related Art

With the rise of consumer electronics products, for many consumers, owning consumer electronics products is not only for satisfying functional demands, but also considered as a symbol of personal taste. Thus, every manufacturer is devoted to develop a variety of electronic products with distinctive features. Specially, various customized electronic products are particularly popular to users for expressing the users' personal characteristics.

Among them, a kind like toy building bricks with modularized and small-volume features and capable of providing innumerable combinations and changes is more popular. However, brick mobile power supplies presenting in a brick-like type which are available on the market can only be combined with the appearances, without any combinations in functions. As a result such kind of mobile power supplies cannot provide the users with flexible distributions and applications of the power supplies.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a power supply device, a power transferring device and methods thereof capable of flexibly distributing power when the power supply device and the power transferring device are connected with each other.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a power supply device configured to be connected with a plurality of external devices is provided. Each of the external devices includes an external connecting point. The power supply device includes a shell, a power providing unit, a power routing circuit and a control circuit. The shell includes a plurality of shell connecting points. The power providing unit is configured to store and provide power to the external devices. The power routing circuit is coupled to the shell connecting points and the power providing unit and includes a plurality of switches. The control circuit is connected with the power routing circuit and controls the switches of the power routing circuit. When detecting that the external connecting point of a first external device is electrically connected with one of the shell connecting points, the control circuit determines whether a type of the first external device is a load device and records device information related to the first external device in a power routing table. If the type of the first external device is the load device, the control circuit transmits the power routing table to the first external device and instructs the power routing circuit to adjust the switches thereof according to a path table returned from the first external device, so as to power the first external device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a power supply method for providing power from a power supply device to a plurality of external devices is provided. The power supply device includes a shell, a power providing unit, a power routing circuit and a control circuit. The method includes the following steps. When the external connecting point of a first external device is detected as being electrically connected with a shell connecting point of the shell, device information related to the first external device is recorded in a power routing table. Whether a type of the first external device is a load device is determined. If the type of the first external device is the load device, the power routing table is transmitted to the first external device, and switches of the power routing circuit are adjusted according to a path table returned by the first external device, so as power the first external device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a power transferring device disposed with a load device and configured to be connected with a power supply device, so as to induce the power supply device to power the load device. The power supply device has a plurality of shell connecting points. The power transferring device has an external connecting point, a control circuit and a power module. The external connecting point is disposed on a surface of the power transferring device. The control circuit is coupled to the external connecting point, receives a power routing table transmitted by the power supply device and generates connection topology information according to the power routing table. The control circuit calculates a path table according to the connection topology information and transmits the path table to the power supply device. The power module receives the power from the power supply device and converts the power into power required by the load device, wherein the power of the power supply device is provided according to the path table.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a power transferring method applicable to a power transferring device disposed with a load device and configured to be connected with a power supply device, so as to induce the power supply device to power the load device is provided. The power transferring method includes the following steps. When a control circuit of the power transferring device is powered, a request for obtaining a power routing table is transmitted to the power supply device to receive the power routing table transmitted by the power supply device. Connection topology information and a power demand table are generated. A path table is calculated according to the connection topology information and the power demand table. The path table is transmitted to the power supply device. And, the power from the power supply device is received and provided to the load device, wherein the power of the power supply device is provided according to the path table.

Based on the above, the power supply device of the invention can record the device information related to each external device connected therewith in the power routing table. And, the power transferring device can establish the connection topology information and the power demand table according to the power routing table and further calculate the path table, such that the power supply can be deployed in the entire power network according to the path table. Thereby, when the user arbitrarily connects the power supply device with the load device, the power transferring device and the power supply device can cooperate with each other to calculate the optimal power supply path for flexibly distributing the power to the load device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1,FIG. 1is a schematic diagram illustrating a system according to an embodiment of the invention. In the present embodiment, power supply devices100a,100band100c, a power transferring device200and load devices205aand205bmay be designed to assemble together or disassemble from one another. The power supply devices100a,100band100cof the present embodiment are in a cuboid shape. In other embodiments, the power supply devices100a,100band100cmay also be design in a cube type, a sphere shape and so on, but the invention is not limited thereto. The power transferring device200is located between the power supply device100and the load devices205aand205band configured to connect the power supply devices100a,100band100cwith the load devices205aand205b. The load devices205aand205bare devices which need to be powered, such as fans, cell phones, rechargeable headphones, game sticks and so on, which construe no limitations to the invention.

In a nominal situation, a user may assemble the power supply devices100a,100band100c, so as to provide power to the load devices205aand205bthrough the power transferring device200. However, the power supply devices100a,100band100care merely structurally connected with one another. For example, for the load device205a, it receives only the power provided from the power supply device100b, while for the load device205b, it receives only the power provided from the power supply device100c. The power supply device100band the power supply device100cdo not have mutual power-related connection with each other.

For more efficient power distribution, a power network is formed by circulating the power among the power supply devices100a,100band100cin the invention, such that the power among the power supply devices100a,100band100cmay be flexibly adjusted and distributed. Embodiments related to internal structures of the power supply device100a,100b,100cand the power transferring device200will be provided below in turn for descriptions.

Description with respect to the internal structures of the power supply devices100aand100bwill be exemplarily set forth below. Referring toFIG. 2,FIG. 2illustrates an internal structure of a power supply device100according to an embodiment of the invention. The power supply device100includes a plurality of shell connecting points N1to N10, a control circuit110, a power routing circuit120, a power module130, a memory140, a flash memory150and an indicating means160.

The control circuit110is coupled to the shell connecting points N1to N10and the power routing circuit120. In the present embodiment, the control circuit110may be packaged in a chip or laid out in a circuit form in the power supply device100. The control circuit110detects whether the shell connecting points N1to N10are connected with other power supply devices or load devices and establishes a power routing table according to a connection scenario. Additionally, the control circuit110exchanges information with the power supply devices or the load devices connected therewith for, for example, exchanging power routing tables with each other or connecting topology information through the shell connecting points N1to N10. And, the control circuit110controls the switches in the power routing circuit120to adjust the power provided to the load device205.

The power routing circuit120has a plurality of switches and deploys the power provided by the power module130to the shell connecting points N1to N10according to a path table indicated by the control circuit110. Specifically, also referring toFIG. 3,FIG. 3illustrates a circuit structure of the power routing circuit120according to an embodiment of the invention. In the invention, the shell connecting points N1to N10and the power module130are respectively connected with two of a plurality of lines122of the power routing circuit120. And, the power routing circuit120has a switch control circuit124corresponding to the plurality of lines122. The lines122corresponding to different shell connecting points N1to N10and the power module130intersect the lines of the switch control circuit124. Meanwhile, switches126are disposed at intersection points of each line122and each line corresponding to the switch control circuit124. In this way, the control circuit110may adjust the connection relation between the lines for distributing the power by controlling whether to turn on or turn off each of the switches126.

Taking the shell connecting point N1as an example, the shell connecting point N1is connected with lines N1.1and N1.2in the power routing circuit120. Metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) switches (also referred to as MOS switches) are respectively disposed at intersection points of the two lines N1.1and N1.2and the lines corresponding to the control circuit134. The type of the switches disposed on the lines in the power routing circuit120is not limited in the invention. When the power routing circuit120receives an instruction from the control circuit110to output power battery+ from the line N1.1, the MOS switch at the intersection point of the line122belonging to Battery+ and the line belonging to N1.1of the switch control circuit124is turned on, such that the power module130is electrically connected with the shell connecting point N1. It should be noted that the hardware circuit of the power routing circuit120is not limited thereto, and any method for controlling the turning-on and the turning-off of the power to adjust the circuit according to the path table is applicable to the invention.

The shell connecting points N1to N10are configured to be connected with other power supply devices or the power transferring device200, and the power supply device100may perform data and power exchange with other power supply devices or the power transferring device200and the load device205through the shell connecting points N1to N10.

Referring to bothFIG. 2andFIG. 4,FIG. 4illustrates a circuit structure of a shell connecting point according to an embodiment of the invention. Each of the shell connecting points N1to N10has two power transmission connecting points102aand102bfor reading and transmitting the power transmitted through the power routing circuit120. The number of the power transmission connecting points in the shell connecting points N1to N10is not limited in the invention. In other embodiments, the shell connecting points N1to N10may include more power transmission connecting points and thereby, the power transferring device200and the load device205may also be connected with the power supply device100in different aspects.

Additionally, each of the shell connecting points N1to N10has two resistors, R1and R2, which are connected in series, where the resistor R1is connected with a working voltage VDD through a switch Q1, and the resistor R2is connected to the ground. In the present embodiment, the switch Q1is an MOS switch, and the switch Q1is coupled to and controlled by the control circuit110. In addition, the control circuit110is also connected with a node P1between the resistors R1and R2and detects a voltage of the node P1to determine whether the shell connecting points N1to N10are coupled to other power supply devices or the power transferring device200. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, each of the shell connecting points N1to N10may be connected to a power supply device or the power transferring device. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the circuit of the shell connecting points of the invention may also be jointly formed by a plurality of connecting points.

Returning toFIG. 2, the power module130is coupled to the power routing circuit120and provides the power to the load device205according to a routing condition of the power routing circuit120. The power module130may be a structural module with a battery holder or a rechargeable battery with a built-in lithium cell, but the invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the memory140, the flash memory150and the indicating means160may be selectively disposed in the power supply device100. The memory140, the flash memory150and the indicating means160are respectively coupled to the control circuit110. The memory140provides a memory space required by the control circuit110when executing a program. The flash memory150stores program codes executed by the control circuit110and an identification code of the power module130. The indicating means160is configured to indicate a connection state between the devices. In the present embodiment, the indicating means160uses a light-emitting diode (LED) lamp for indication. For example, when the load device205and the power supply device100are normally connected, the indicating means160indicates by green light. When the power supply device100is not connected with any device, the indicating means160indicates by red light. However, the invention is not limited thereto.

Description with respect to an internal structure of the power transferring device200will be set forth below. Referring toFIG. 5,FIG. 5illustrates an internal structure of the power transferring device200according to an embodiment of the invention. The power transferring device200includes a control circuit210, a power module220, an external connecting point TP, a memory230, a flash memory240and an indicating means250.

The control circuit210is coupled to the external connecting point TP and the power module220. The control circuit210calculates connection topology information according to a connection scenario between the power supply device100and other load devices and plans a power supply path according to the connection topology information, thereby deciding a direction and an electric quantity of the power supply route. In the present embodiment, the control circuit210performs the path planning according to a topology algorithm and a demand of the load device205. In the present embodiment, the control circuit210may be packaged in a chip or laid out in a circuit form in the power supply transferring device200.

The power module220is coupled to the control circuit210, the external connecting point TP and the load device205. The power module220receives the power from the power supply device100, converts it into power adaptive for the load device205and provides the converted power to the load device205. The power module220is, for example, a voltage stabilizer, a transformer or the like, but the invention is not limited thereto.

The external connecting point TP is configured to be connected to the power supply device100to read the power from the power supply device100and provide the power to the load device205. And, with the external connecting point TP, the control circuit210may perform data transmission with the power supply device100. Referring to bothFIG. 5andFIG. 6,FIG. 6illustrates a circuit structure of the external connecting point TP according to an embodiment of the invention. In the present embodiment, the external connecting point TP has two power transmission connecting points,202aand202b. The power transmission connecting points202aand202bare connected to the power module220to transmit the received power to the load device205through the power module220. Being different from the shell connecting points N1to N10of the power supply device100, the external connecting point TP has only one resistor R3, and the resistor R3is connected to the ground. Additionally, the control circuit210is connected to a node P2near the resistor R3and detect a voltage thereof.

Returning toFIG. 5, the memory230, the flash memory240and the indicating means250may be selectively disposed in the power transferring device200. The memory230, the flash memory240and the indicating means250are respectively coupled to the control circuit210. The memory230provides a memory space required by the control circuit210when executing a program. The flash memory250stores program codes executed by the control circuit210and an identification code of the load device205. The indicating means260is configured to indicate a connection state between the devices. In the present embodiment, indicating means260uses an LED lamp for indication, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Referring toFIG. 7,FIG. 7is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection of the power supply devices100aand100b, the power transferring device200and the load device205according to an embodiment of the invention. In the present embodiment, each long-side surface of each the power supply devices100aand100bhas two shell connecting points, e.g., the shell connecting points N1and N2, and each of the rest of the surfaces has a shell connecting point, e.g., the shell connecting point N4, but the invention is not limited thereto. The shell connecting points N1to N4of the power supply device100may be designed in various styles, such as locker members capable of being locked to each other, magnets, male and female USB/micro-USB connectors and so on, and any style that can allow two objects to be connected with each other can be applied in the invention. In the present embodiment, the locker members capable of being locked to each other serve as an example for description. In order to achieve mutual connection of the power supply devices100aand100b, a part of the shell connecting points of the power supply devices100aand100bmay be convex locker members, for example, the shell connecting point N1. Another part of the shell connecting points of the power supply devices100aand100bmay be concave locker members, for example, the shell connecting points N2, N3and N4. In this way, the shell connecting point N1of the power supply device100amay be locked to the shell connecting point N2of the power supply device100b, such that the power supply devices100aand100bmay be connected with each other. The circuit structures of the shell connecting points N1to N4of the power supply devices100aand100bmay refer toFIG. 4and the related description and will not be repeatedly described.

The power transferring device200also has an external connecting point TP and a connection plug201. The external connecting point TP may be designed in any style capable of being locked to the shell connecting point N3. In the present embodiment, the external connecting point TP is a convex locker member and correspondingly locked to the shell connecting point N3of the power supply device100, but the invention is not limited thereto. The circuit structure of the external connecting point TP of the power transferring device200may refer toFIG. 6and the related description and will not be repeated. A connection plug201aof the power transferring device200may be connected to a connection socket201bof the load device205. For example, the connection plug201aand the connection socket201bmay be locker members capable of being locked to each other, magnets, male and female USB/micro-USB connectors and so on, and any style that can allow two objects to be connected with each other can be applied in the invention. In other embodiments, the power transferring device200is directly disposed on the load device205and electrically connected with the load device205. In the invention, the connection relation between the power transferring device200and the load device205is not limited.

It should be noted that the assembly and connection manner of the power supply devices100aand100b, the power transferring device200and the load device205described above are only illustrated as an example. In the applications of the present embodiment, the user may adjust the assembly manner of the power supply devices100aand100b, the power transferring device200and the load device205based on his/her demand. For example, the user may connect the shell connecting point N4of the power supply device100aand the external connecting point TP of the power transferring device200, but the invention is not limited thereto. For descriptive convenience, in the description set forth below, the power transferring device200is already connected with the load device205, and the load device205is already connected with the power transferring device200.

Hereinafter, the scenario where the shell connecting point N1of the power supply device100ais connected with the shell connecting point N2of the power supply device100b, and the shell connecting point N3of the power supply device100ais connected with the shell connecting point N4of the power transferring device200as illustrated inFIG. 7is taken as an example for describing a method how the control circuit110determines whether the power supply device100ais connected with the power supply device100bor the power transferring device200and operations that should be respectively performed by the control circuits of the power supply device100a, the power supply device100band the power transferring device200.

[When the Power Supply Device100aand the Power Supply Device100bare Connected]

Referring toFIG. 8first,FIG. 8is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a scenario when the power supply devices are connected with each other according to an embodiment of the invention. It should be mentioned first that in the circuit structures of the shell connecting point N1of the power supply device100aand the shell connecting point N2of the power supply device100b, resistors R1, R1′, R2and R2′ have the same resistance size, e.g., 10K ohms (a), but the invention is not limited thereto. Additionally, switches Q1and Q1′ respectively adopts independent random-time switches. In other words, the switches Q1and Q1′ are turned on or turned off respectively at random times. Taking the shell connecting point N1for example, when the switch Q1is turned on, the working voltage VDD is provided to the resistors R1and R2, and in this circumstance, a voltage detected at the node P1by the control circuit110is ½ VDD. When the switch Q1is turned off, the read working voltage VDD is not applied to the resistors R1and R2, and in this circumstance, the voltage detected at the node P1by the control circuit110is 0 V.

When the shell connecting points N1and N2are connected, the resistors R1, R1′ and the resistors R2, R2′ between the shell connecting points N1and N2respectively form parallel circuits. Additionally, based on the aforementioned random-time switch mechanism, the switches Q1and Q1′ may be turned on or turned off simultaneously or at different times. Thus, four scenarios as listed in Table 1 may occur:

State of switch Q1State of switch Q1′Voltage of nodes P1 and P1′ONON½VDDOFFOFF0VONOFF⅓VDDOFFON⅓VDD

Table 1 Shows the Relation Between the Voltage Detected at Each of the Nodes P1and P1′ and on and Off States of the Switches Q1and Q1′

When the switches Q1and Q1′ are simultaneously turned on, at this time, the voltage detected at each of the nodes P1and P1′ is ½ of the working voltage VDD. When the switches Q1and Q1′ are simultaneously turned off, at this time, the voltage detected at each of the nodes P1and P1′ is 0 V since no working voltage VDD is read. When the switch Q1is turned on, and the switch Q1′ is turned off, the resistors R2and R2′ are connected in parallel and form a voltage divider circuit. In this circumstance, the resistance size of the resistors R2and R2′ becomes ½ of the original ones, and the voltage detected at each of the nodes P1and P1′ is ⅓ of the working voltage VDD. Similarly, when the switch Q1′ is turned on, and the switch Q1is turned off, the resistors R2and R2′ are connected in parallel and form a voltage divider circuit. In this circumstance, the resistance size of the resistors R2and R2′ becomes ½ of the original ones, and the voltage detected at each of the nodes P1and P1′ is ⅓ of the working voltage VDD. In this circumstance, the voltage detected at each of the nodes P1and P1′ is 0 V or ½ of the working voltage VDD when the shell connecting points N1and N2are not connected. Thus, the control circuit110, when detecting that the voltage of the nodes P1and P1′ is ⅓ of the working voltage VDD, may obtain that the shell connecting point N1is connected with the shell connecting point N2of the power supply device100b.

After the control circuit110determines that the shell connecting point N1and the shell connecting point N2are connected with each other, the control circuit of the power supply device100aand the control circuit of the power supply device100bfurther record information related to the shell connecting point N1and the shell connecting point N2in power routing tables of their own. The power routing tables record connection scenarios between the power supply devices100aand100band other power supply devices or the power transferring device. In the present embodiment, each power supply device records a power routing table related to itself. Taking the power supply device100afor example, the power routing table thereof is as below:

Table 2 Records a Power Routing Table of a Power Supply Device

The power routing table records which shell connecting point of the power supply device is connected with another external device, whether the connected external device is a power supply device or a power transferring device, an identification code of the connected external device and through which connection node the connected device is connected. Additionally, if the connected device is a power supply device, the power routing table also records how much the residual electric quantity is.

[When the Power Supply Device100aand the Power Transferring Device200are Connected]

Retelling toFIG. 9first,FIG. 9is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a scenario when the power supply device100aand the power transferring device200are connected with each other according to an embodiment of the invention. It should be mentioned first that in the present embodiment, the resistance size of the resistor R1of the power supply device100ais 10 times the resistance size of the load R3(resistor R3) of the power transferring device200. For example, the size of the resistor R1is 10 kΩ, and the size of the load R3is 1 kΩ.

When the shell connecting point N3of the power supply device100ais connected with the external connecting point TP of the power transferring device200, the resistor R2and load R3form a parallel circuit. Additionally, based on the aforementioned random-time switch mechanism, two scenarios as listed in Table 3 may occur:

State of switch Q1Voltage of nodes P1 and P2ON0.1VDDOFF0V

Table 3 Shows the Relation Between the Voltage Detected at Each of the Nodes P1and P1′ and on and Off States of the Switch Q1

The resistor R2and the load R3form a parallel voltage divider circuit. Thus, when the switch Q1is turned on, the voltage detected at each of the nodes P1and P2by control circuit110is 0.1 VDD. When the switch Q1is turned off, at this time, the voltage detected at each of the nodes P1and P2is 0V since no working voltage is read. The voltage detected at the node P1is 0 V or ½ of the working voltage VDD when the shell connecting point N3is not yet connected with the external connecting point TP of the power transferring device200. Thus, the control circuit110, when detecting that the voltage of the node P1is 1/10 of the working voltage VDD, may obtain that the shell connecting point N1is connected with the external connecting point TP of the power transferring device200.

Similarly, after the control circuit110determines that the shell connecting point N1and the external connecting point TP are connected with each other, the control circuit of the power supply device100aand the control circuit of the power transferring device200further record information related to the shell connecting point N1and the external connecting point TP in power routing tables of their own. The power routing table of the power transferring device200recorded by the power supply device100ais as below, for example:

Table 4 Records the Power Routing Table of the Power Transferring Device

The power routing table records which shell connecting point of the power transferring device is connected therewith, an identification code of the connected power transferring device, whether the power transferring device is connected with other devices, which the node for the power transferring device to connect with other devices is and a connection order of the power transferring device. The column of connection order of the power transferring device is used to record connection orders of a plurality of power transferring devices when being connected with the power supply device.

It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the power routing table records the device information related to the power supply device and the power transferring device jointly recorded by Table 2 and Table 4. In other embodiments, the power routing table may be one table, and the columns of this power routing table combine the columns of Table 2 and Table 4, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Not only the power supply device100has to record information related to the external devices connected therewith, but also the power transferring device200has to record the power transferring device connected therewith. In addition, the power transferring device200further sends a request to all power supply devices which are mutually connected, thereby obtaining connection scenarios of the information related to all peripheral devices to form connection topology information. The connection topology information may be as below, for example:

TABLE 5Connection topology information TableID of otherNode forconnectedconnecting withDevice typeIDNodedevicesother devicesPower supply device001N1002N2Transferring device001N3003TP
After the power transferring device200obtains the power routing tables provided by the connected power supply devices as shown in Table 2 and Table 4, the power transferring device200generates connection topology information as shown in Table 5 according to the power routing tables. The connection topology information records connection relation between all power supply devices and power transferring devices which are connected with each other.

Furthermore, the power transferring device200also records its required electric quantity and electric quantities of all the power transferring devices (i.e., the devices which need to power) in the power network. Refer to Table 6 first as below:

TABLE 6Table of the electric quantity requiredby the power transferring devicePower on demandPriority order of supplyOne power supply3Two power supplies2Three power supplies1
In each power transferring device200, a table, e.g., Table 6, of the electric quantity required thereby is established according to the electric quantity required by the load device205which is connected with the power transferring device200. The table of the electric quantity required by the power transferring device itself records power supplies required thereby and an order of each power supply. For example, referring to Table 6, the power transferring device200assigns a priority order of 1 to a scenario where three power supplies are required, assigns a priority order of 1 to a scenario where two power supplies are required and a priority order of 3 to a scenario where one power supply is required. Thus, when the power provided by the power supply device100in the power network is sufficient for providing the three power supplies required to the power transferring device200, the three power supplies are preferentially distributed to the power transferring device. However, if the power provided by the power supply device100is insufficient for providing the three power supplies to the power transferring device200, the power transferring device200sequentially provide the two power supplies and the one power supply according to the electric quantity capable of being provided by the power supply device100.

After the power transferring device200is connected with the power supply device100, the power transferring device200also sends a request for obtaining power routing tables to collect the electric quantities required by all the power transferring devices in the power network, which are organized as Table 7:

Table 7 Shows a Power Demand Table of all the Power Transferring Devices in the Power Network

Table 7 records, in the power network, the electric quantities required by all the power transferring devices and the priority orders. The power transferring device200performs path planning according to the connection topology information as shown in Table 5 and the power demand table as shown in Table 7 to generate a path table.

How a power supply devices and a power transferring devices generate the power routing tables, the connection topology information and the path tables for connecting all the power supply devices and power transferring devices will be described in detail below.

First, referring toFIG. 10,FIG. 10is a flowchart of a power supply method according to an embodiment of the invention. When the power supply device100detects that the external devices are connected to the power supply device100, first, in step S1001, the power supply device100continues to detect whether there is a first external device connected with the power supply device100. When the power supply device100detects that the first external device is connected with the power supply device100, step S1003is performed, where the control circuit110of the power supply device100determines whether a type of the first external device is a load device.

In the present embodiment, if the control circuit110detects that a voltage of shell connecting point N3connected to the first external device changes from a first predetermined voltage set to a second predetermined voltage, the control circuit determines the type of the first external device as not the load device. If detecting that the voltage of shell connecting point N3changes from the first predetermined voltage set to the third voltage, the control circuit110determines the type of the first external device as the load device. In the present embodiment, the first predetermined voltage set is the voltage detected by the shell connecting point N1when the power supply device100is not yet connected with another power supply device or another load device, which is, for example, 0 V or ½ of the working voltage VDD. The second predetermined voltage is the voltage detected when the power supply device100is connected with another power supply device, which is, for example, ⅓ of the working voltage VDD. The third voltage is the voltage detected when the power supply device100is connected with another load device. In the present embodiment, the third voltage is 1/10 of the working voltage VDD. However, the third voltage changes according to load levels of different load devices, and a level of the third voltage is not limited in the invention. In other embodiments, the control circuit determines that the type of the first external device is the load device according to the voltage detected by the control circuit which is neither the first predetermined voltage set nor the second predetermined voltage. The principle of determining the type of the first external device according to the change of the detected voltage has been described in detail with reference toFIG. 8andFIG. 9and thus, will not be repeatedly described.

When the type of the first external device is not the load device, the control circuit110of the power supply device100sends a device information inquiry request to obtain device information related to the first external device. Then, step S1005is performed, where the control circuit110records the device information related to the first external device in the power routing table. The contents recorded in the power routing table have been disclosed in Table 2, Table 4 and the related description in the specification and thus, will not be repeatedly described hereinafter.

The power routing table records the types of all connected external devices. Thus, in step S1007, the control circuit110further looks up whether the type of the external devices recorded in the power routing table belongs to the load device. The invention is applied in providing power to the load devices, and the path planning is performed by the control circuit210of the power transferring device which is connected with the load device. Thus, if none of the external devices recorded in the power routing table whose type is the load device, step S1001is returned to, and the control circuit110continues to detect whether any other external device is connected with the power supply device. However, if the type of one of the external devices recorded in the power routing table is the load device, the control circuit110notifies the external device belonging to the load device that a new power transferring device is added into the power network. The external device belonging to the load device, after receiving the notification, sends a request for obtaining a power routing table to the control circuit110. In this circumstance, step S1009is performed, where the control circuit110transmits the power routing table to the external device belonging to the load device, so as to update the connection condition of the entire power network with the load device. The one of the external devices which belongs to the load device calculates a path table and returns it to the control circuit110of the power supply device100according to the received power routing table.

In the present embodiment, when an external device belonging to the load device is connected with the power supply device100, the power supply device and the load device record a connection order of the load device. For example, when a first load device is connected with the power supply device100, a serial number, e.g., a serial number 001, for recording the connection order of the load device is given in the power routing table. Then, if there are other load devices are connected with the power supply device100, the control circuit110records the connection order of these load devices in a form of serial numbers. Accordingly, the control circuit110may obtain the order of the load devices when being connected with the power supply device100. In the present embodiment, the control circuit110employs the external device, among the external devices, belonging to the load device which is the last one connected with the power supply device100as one of the external devices belonging to the load device for calculating and returning the path table, but the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the control circuit110may request for the load device which is the first one connected with the power supply device100or give the load device a specific priority order number, but the invention is not limited thereto.

The one of the external devices belonging to the load device, after calculating and obtaining the path table, returns the path table to the control circuit110. In step S1011, the control circuit110receives the path table transmitted from the one of the external devices belonging to the load device. Then, in step S1013, the control circuit110adjusts the switches of the power routing circuit according to the path table, so as to induce the power providing unit to power the external device belonging to the load device. The method of adjusting the switches of the power routing circuit has been disclosed inFIG. 3and the corresponding description in the specification and thus, will not be repeatedly described hereinafter.

If in step S1003, the control circuit110of the power supply device100determines that the type of the first external device is the load device, step S1015is performed, where the control circuit110provides the power to the control circuit210of the first external device. The control circuit110of the power supply device100sends a device information inquiry request to the control circuit210, so as to obtain the device information related to the first external device. In step S1017, the control circuit110records the device information related to the first external device. Meanwhile, the control circuit110also broadcasts the device information related to the first external device to the power supply devices and the load devices in the power network, such that all devices in the power network obtain that the first external device is added into the power network. Then, in step S1019, the control circuit110transmits the power routing table to the first external device. The first external device generates the path table according to the power routing table, and in step S1021, the control circuit110receives the path table from the first external device. The control circuit110, in step S1023, adjusts the switches of the power routing circuit according to the path table, so as to induce the power module130to power the first external device and the external devices belonging to the load device.

It should be additionally noted that in step S1001, when detecting that the external devices are connected with the power supply device, the control circuit110determines whether to temporarily terminate providing the power to the external devices belonging to the load device according to the power supply condition of the power network, so as to reorganize the power supply paths. In step S913or S923, after adjusting the switches of the power routing circuit according to the path table, the control circuit110restarts the power supply of the entire power network, so as to induce the power providing unit to power the external devices belonging to the load device, but the invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 11is a flowchart of a power transferring method according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 11, if the type of the first external device is the load device, when the load device is connected to the power supply device100through the power transferring device, in step S1101, the control circuit210of the power transferring device connected with the load device is powered. In this circumstance, in step S1103, the control circuit210transmits a request for obtaining a power routing table to the power supply device100in the power network. The control circuit110of the power supply device100, after receiving the power routing table, transmits the power routing table owned by the power supply device100to the power transferring device. In step S1105, the control circuit210obtains power routing tables from all power transferring devices. Then, the control circuit210performs step S1107to generate connection topology information and a power demand table according to the power routing table. The contents related to the connection topology information and the power demand table have been described in Table 5 and Table 7 and thus, will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. In step S1109, the control circuit210determines whether the current power supply path can be re-planned according to the contents related to the connection topology information and the power demand table owned thereby. If not, the control circuit210performs step S1111, where the control circuit210instructs the indicating means250to send an error indication to notify the user that a connection error occurs. If the control circuit210determines that the current power supply path can be re-planned, in step S1113, the control circuit210calculates the path table according to the connection topology information and the power demand table. Meanwhile, in step S1115, the control circuit210transmits the path table to the power supply device100. After the control circuit110of the power supply device100receives the path table, the control circuit110controls the switches of the power routing circuit120according to the path table, so as to induce the power module130to power the first external device. In step S1117, the control circuit210receives the power which is provided from the power supply device110and is to be provided to the load device.

On the other hand, please refer toFIG. 12andFIG. 13for a method performed to remove a device from the power network.FIG. 12is a flowchart of a power supply method in a scenario where a device is removed. First, for the power supply device100, in step S1201, the control circuit110detects that a second external device is disconnected from the power supply device. The second external device as referred to herein may be a power supply device or a load device. In this circumstance, the control circuit110performs step S1203to delete device information related to the second external device from the power routing table. Then, in step S1205, the control circuit110further looks up whether the type of the external devices recorded in the power routing table belongs to the load device. If the power routing table does not record the type of any external device as the load device, it indicates that no device needs to be powered. Thus, the power supply device does not have to perform any operation. However, if the power routing table records that the type of one of the external devices is the load device, the control circuit110notifies to remove the second external device, among the external devices, belonging to the load device from the power network.

The external device belonging to the load device, after receiving the notification, sends a request for obtaining the power routing table to the control circuit110. In this circumstance, step S1207is performed, where the control circuit110transmits the power routing table to the external devices belonging to the load device, so as to update the connection condition of the entire power network with the load device. The one of the external devices belonging to the load device calculates a path table according to the received power routing table and returns it to the control circuit110of the power supply device100. The method regarding how to select the one of the external devices belonging to the load device has been described with reference toFIG. 10and thus, will not be repeatedly described.

The one of the external devices belonging to the load device, after calculating and obtaining the path table, calculates the path table according to the received power routing table and returns it to the control circuit110of the power supply device100. In step S1209, the control circuit110receives the path table transmitted from the one of the external devices belonging to the load device. Additionally, in step S1211, the control circuit110adjusts the switches of the power routing circuit according to the path table, so as to induce the power module130to power the one of the external devices belonging to the load device. The method of adjusting the switches of the power routing circuit has been disclosed inFIG. 3and the corresponding description in the specification and thus, will not be repeatedly described hereinafter.

Referring toFIG. 13,FIG. 13is a flowchart of a power transferring method in a scenario of a device change according to an embodiment of the invention. In step S1301, the power transferring device connected with the load device receives a device change notification from the power supply device. The device change notification as referred to herein is sent by the load device when a power supply device is added into the power network, or a power supply device or a power transferring device is removed from the power network. In this circumstance, in step S1303, the control circuit210transmits a request for obtaining the power routing table to the power supply device100in the power network. The control circuit110of the power supply device100, after receiving the request for obtaining the power routing table, transmits the power routing table owned by the power supply device100to the load device. In step S1305, the control circuit210obtains the power routing table from the power supply device100. Then, in step S1307, the control circuit210generates connection topology information and a power demand table according to the power routing table. The contents related to the connection topology information and the power demand table have been set forth in Table 5 and Table 7 above and thus, will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. The control circuit210, in step S1309, determines whether the current power supply path can be re-planned according to the contents of the connection topology information and the power demand table owned thereby. If not, the control circuit210performs step S1311, where the control circuit210instructs the indicating means250to send an error indication to notify the user that a connection error occurs. If the control circuit210determines that the current power supply path can be re-planned, in step S1313, the control circuit210calculates the path table according to the connection topology information and the power demand table. Meanwhile, in step S1315, the control circuit210transmits the path table to the power supply device100. After the control circuit110of the power supply device100receives the path table, the control circuit110controls the switches of the power routing circuit120according to the path table, so as to induce the power providing unit to power the first external device. In step S1317, the control circuit210receives the power which is provided from the power supply device110and is to be provided to the load device.

In light of the foregoing, the power supply device of the invention can record the device information related to each external device connected therewith in the power routing table. And, when the load device is connected with the power supply device through the power transferring device, the power supply device transmits the power routing table to the power transferring device. The power transferring device can establish the connection topology information and the power demand table according to the power routing table of each power supply device and further calculate the path table, such that the power supply can be deployed in the entire power network according to the path table. Thereby, when the user arbitrarily connects the power supply device with the load device, the power transferring device and the power supply device can cooperate with each other to calculate the optimal power supply path for flexibly distributing the power.