Patent ID: 8531174

Claim:
An output module for providing power to a device by using power from a source, comprising: a. an inlet port; b. an outlet port; c. means for receiving a signal from the device; d. a power conversion circuit configured to receive power from the source through the inlet port and supply converted power to the device through the outlet port; and e. a control circuit coupled to the power conversion circuit and configured to determine a power requirement of the device based on a determination of how the signal received from the device changes in response to adjustment to a voltage signal output to the device from the output module, wherein during the determination of the power requirement the voltage signal output is incremented linearly at a first rate greater than zero, and based upon the change in the signal received the voltage signal output is incremented at a second rate greater than zero, wherein the control circuit operates the power conversion circuit to produce converted power having a parameter based upon the power requirement.