Patent ID: 8830073

Claim:
A method of operating an electronic device that receives power from a power converter that operates in a sleep mode and an active mode, comprising: while the power converter is connected to the electronic device, periodically using circuitry in the electronic device to switch the power converter between the sleep mode and the active mode; wherein the power converter is placed into the sleep mode when the power converter detects that output loading from the electronic device is absent, and the power converter is placed into the active mode when the power converter detects that output loading from the electronic device is present, wherein the electronic device opens a switch in a protection circuit to electrically isolate the power converter from the electronic device so that the power converter detects an absence of output loading and, in response to the detection of the absence of output loading, the power converter enters into the sleep mode, wherein the protection circuit protects the electronic device when a power supply voltage is out of range, and wherein the electronic device closes the switch in the protection circuit to electrically connect the power converter to the electronic device so that the power converter detects a presence of output loading and, in response to the detection of the presence of output loading, the power converter enters into the active mode.