Patent ID: 7911817

Claim:
A method for operating an AC-DC adapter, said method comprising: providing the AC-DC adapter, said AC-DC adapter being configured to convert AC power to DC power and to provide said DC power to a DC-powered device at a DC power output of said AC-DC adapter, said AC-DC adapter being further configured to receive load-indicative signals from the DC-powered device; providing AC power to an AC input of said AC-DC adapter; monitoring for the presence of load-indicative signals communicated from the DC-powered device to said AC-DC adapter while providing said AC power to said AC input of said AC-DC adapter; and controlling energy consumption of said AC-DC adapter by: operating said AC-DC adapter so as to provide a first level of DC power at said DC power output that is sufficient for powering the DC-powered device while load-indicative signals are being communicated to said AC-DC adapter from the DC powered device, operating said AC-DC adapter so as to provide a second level of DC power at said DC power output while load-indicative signals are not being communicated to said AC-DC adapter from the DC powered device, and operating said AC-DC adapter so as to provide said second level of DC power by producing recurring voltage pulses separated by intervals of no voltage at said DC power output of said adapter while load-indicative signals are not being communicated to said AC-DC adapter from the DC powered device; wherein said second level of DC power is less than said first level of DC power.