BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

This disclosure relates generally to information handling systems and, more particularly, to LED control for a detachable reversable power cable.

Description of the Related Art

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.

Examples of information handling systems include portable devices such as notebook computers, media players, personal data assistants, digital cameras, cellular phones, cordless phones, smart phones, tablet computers, and 2-in-1 tablet-laptop combination computers. A portable device may generally be any device that a user may carry for handheld use and that includes a processor. Typically, portable devices are powered using a rechargeable battery and include a display device. The battery is typically charged using a detachable DC power adapter.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a disclosed method for light emitting diode (LED) control for a detachable reversable power cable includes detecting, at a power source, that a first connector at a first end of a reversable power cable is connected to the power source, triggering, at the power source, a first pulse on a first wire of the reversable power cable that turns off a first LED switch coupled to a first LED on the first connector at the first end of the reversable power cable, disabling the first LED, and triggering, at the power source, a second pulse on a second wire of the reversable power cable that drives a second LED on a second connector at a second end of the reversable power cable opposite the first end, the second LED being coupled to a second LED switch that is on.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the method may further include responsive to detecting that the second connector at the second end of the reversable power cable is connected to a power sink, modifying a driver path for the second LED on the second connector.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the first wire on the reversable power cable may carry a first configuration channel signal, the second wire on the reversable power cable may carry a second configuration channel signal, and modifying the driver path for the second LED on the second connector may include decoupling the driver path for the second LED from the second wire on the reversable power cable and coupling the driver path for the second LED to a third wire on the reversable power cable, the third wire carrying a power bus signal.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the first wire on the reversable power cable may carry a first configuration channel signal and triggering the first pulse may include initiating, by a power delivery controller at the power source, a pulse on the first configuration channel signal, the first configuration channel signal being coupled to the first LED switch.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the method may further include, prior to detecting that the first connector at the first end of the reversable power cable is connected to the power source, detecting that the second connector at the second end of the reversable power cable is connected to a power sink.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the method may further include, subsequent to triggering the second pulse, detecting that the second connector at the second end of the reversable power cable is connected to a power sink.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the method may further include, responsive to a disconnection of the reversable power cable from the power source, disabling the first LED and the second LED.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the method may further include, responsive to disconnection of the reversable power cable from the power sink, disabling the first LED and the second LED.

In another aspect, a disclosed system includes a reversable power cable that includes a first connector at a first end of the reversable power cable, a second connector at a second end of the reversable power cable, and a length of cable between the first connector and the second connector. The first connector includes a first light emitting diode (LED), and a first LED switch coupled to the first LED and operable to disable the first LED when the first LED switch is off and to couple the first LED to a driving current source when the first LED switch is on. The second connector includes a second LED, and a second LED switch coupled to the second LED and operable to disable the second LED when the second LED switch is off and to couple the second LED to a driving current source when the second LED switch is on. The cable between the first connector and the second connector includes respective wires carrying a power bus signal, a first configuration channel signal, and a second configuration channel signal. The system also includes an external power source for an information handling system. The external power source includes a port for coupling the external power source to the reversable power cable and a power delivery controller. The power delivery controller includes circuitry operable to detect that the first connector is connected to the external power source, to trigger a first pulse on the first configuration channel signal to turn off the first LED switch, disabling the first LED, and to trigger a second pulse on the second configuration channel signal to provide a drive current to the second LED while the second LED switch is on.

In yet another aspect, a disclosed external power source for an information handling system includes a port for coupling the external power source to the reversable power cable and a power delivery controller. The power delivery controller includes circuitry operable to detect that a first connector at a first end of the reversable power cable is connected to the port on the external power source, to trigger a first pulse on a first wire of the reversable power cable that turns off a first light emitting diode (LED) switch coupled to a first LED on the first connector at the first end of the reversable power cable, disabling the first LED, and to trigger a second pulse on a second wire of the reversable power cable that drives a second LED on a second connector at a second end of the reversable power cable opposite the first end, the second LED being coupled to a second LED switch that is on.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the power delivery controller may further include circuitry operable to, responsive to detecting that the second connector at the second end of the reversable power cable is connected to a power sink, decouple a driver path for the second LED from the second wire on the reversable power cable and couple the driver path for the second LED to a third wire on the reversable power cable, the third wire carrying a power bus signal.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the power delivery controller may further include circuitry operable to detect that the second connector at the second end of the reversable power cable is connected to a power sink prior to detecting that the first connector at the first end of the reversable power cable is connected to the power source.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the power delivery controller may further include circuitry operable to detect, subsequent to triggering the second pulse, that the second connector at the second end of the reversable power cable is connected to a power sink.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the power delivery controller may further include circuitry operable to disable the first LED and the second LED responsive to a disconnection of the reversable power cable from the power source.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the power delivery controller may further include circuitry operable to disable the first LED and the second LED responsive to a disconnection of the reversable power cable from the power sink.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the external power source may include at least one of a battery and an AC-DC converter.

