Background

[0001] Computing devices can include input/output (I/O) devices having I/O ports. I/O ports can support various devices and features for the various devices. For example, one I/O port may allow for a particular device to perform certain functions, and a different I/O port may allow for a different device to perform different functions.

[0002] A computing device can include a power supply unit to provide power to the I/O ports. The power provided to the I/O ports can allow for a device connected to an I/O port to perform functions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0003] Figure 1 is a diagram of an example computing device for power allocation consistent with the disclosure.

[0004] Figure 2 is a diagram of an example computing device for power allocation consistent with the disclosure.

[0005] Figure 3 is a diagram of an example device for power allocation consistent with the disclosure.

Figure 4 is an example of a method consistent with the disclosure.

[0007] A power supply unit may have a particular power output amount. As used herein, the term“power supply unit” refers to an electrical device that supplies electric power to an electrical load. For example, a power supply unit of a computing device can provide an amount of electric power to an I/O port of the computing device. The power supply unit can provide power to the various I/O ports to power the particular I/O devices using the amount of available power from the power supply unit.

[0008] As used herein, the term“I/O port” refers to an interface between a computing device and a peripheral device. For example, an I/O port can serve as an interface between a computing device and an I/O device. As used herein, the term“device” refers to an ancillary device (e.g., I/O device) used to transmit information into a computing device and receive information from the computing device. For example, an I/O device can be a peripheral device which can transmit information to a computing device via an I/O port of the computing device and receive information from the computing device via the I/O port.

[0009] Computing devices can include specifications for a particular amount of I/O ports and/or I/O devices. For example, a customer may order a computing device having a particular amount of I/O ports able to support a particular amount of I/O devices. A power supply unit of a computing device can supply a certain amount of power to devices included in the computing device, including the various I/O ports to support the particular amount of I/O devices. For example, a power supply unit can supply power to the processor, memory, storage, audio devices, graphics devices, fans, as well as other devices, in addition to the I/O devices. As used herein, the term“power” refers to a rate at which electrical energy is transferred by an electric circuit. A total amount of power a power supply unit can provide may be referred to as a power supply budget. The devices (e.g., processor, memory, storage, audio devices, graphics devices, fans, I/O devices, etc.) may draw a certain amount of power from the total power supply budget.

[0010] In some examples, a customer may order a computing device having a power supply unit with a power supply budget that is not fully utilized. For example, the devices (e.g., processor, memory, storage, audio devices, graphics devices, fans, I/O devices, etc.) may not fully utilize the power budget of the power supply unit because the amount of devices included in the computing device is low, the devices draw a low amount of power, etc. in such an example, the power supply unit is producing power that is not utilized by any devices of the computing device.

[0011] In some examples, a subset of customers may have additional power demands to enable certain I/O device functionality. However, the subset of customers may be small, and may not provide sufficient justification to add cost to the computing device by supporting the power demands to support the certain i/O device functionality.

[0012] Power allocation according to the disclosure can allow for unused power generated by the power supply unit of a computing device to be allocated to certain I/O devices. For example, in an instance in which a power supply budget is not fully utilized, an unused amount of power can be allocated to I/O devices to enable certain I/O functionality for peripheral devices connected to the I/O devices. Power allocation can allow for additional I/O functionality for peripheral I/O devices while leveraging standard power connections with minimal impact to the computing device cost.

[0013] Figure 1 is a diagram of an example computing device 100 for power allocation consistent with the disclosure. As illustrated in Figure 1 , computing device 100 can include first device 102, second device 104, supplemental I/O power input 108, and power supply unit 108.

[0014] As used herein, the term“computing device” can, for example, refer to a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a server, storage and/or networking equipment, and/or a mobile device, among other types of computing devices. A mobile device can include a phone (e.g., a smart phone), a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), smart glasses, and/or a wrist-worn device (e.g., a smart watch), among other types of mobile devices.

[0015] As illustrated in Figure 1 , computing device 100 can include first device 102. First device 102 can be an I/O device, as described above. First device 102 can have a power allocation from a power supply unit 108 of computing device 100. For example, first device 102 can be a device that includes a power allocation of 5 watts (W) of power from the power supply unit 108 of the computing device 100.

[0016] First device 102 can include a first power protocol. As used herein, the term“power protocol” refers to a protocol defining power delivery to a particular device. For example, a power protocol can be a standard power delivery specification for a particular device type.

[0017] In some examples, first device 102 can be a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) device. As used herein, the term“PC!e device” refers to a device that utilizes a PCIe bus to communicate with a computing device. As used herein, the term“PCIe” refers to a serial computing device expansion bus standard. That is, first device 102 can be a PCIe device which can communicate with (e.g., transit information to, and/or receive information from) computing device 100 via a PCIe bus.

[0018] In some examples, first device 102 can be a serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) device. As used herein, the term“SATA device” refers to a device that utilizes a SATA bus to communicate with a computing device. As used herein, the term“SATA” refers to a computing device bus interface that can connect host bus adapters to a SATA device, such as a mass storage device. That is, first device 102 can be a SATA device which can communicate with (e.g., transit information to, and/or receive information from) computing device 100 via a SATA bus. Examples of mass storage devices can include hard disk drives, optical drives, and/or solid-state drives, among other types of mass storage devices.

[0019] In some examples, first device 102 can be a four-pin legacy power device. As used herein, the term“four-pin legacy power device” refers to a device that utilizes a four-pin legacy power connector to receive power from a power supply unit 108 of a computing device.

[0020] Although first device 102 is described above as being a PCIe device, a SATA device, and/or a four-pin legacy power device, examples of the disclosure are not so limited. For example, first device 102 can be a 20/24 pin advanced technology extended (ATX) device, 12 volt (12 V) device, among other types of devices.

[0021] Computing device 100 can include second device 104. Second device 104 can be an I/O device, as described above. Second device 104 can have a power allocation from a power supply unit 108 of computing device 100. For example, second device 104 can be a device that includes a power allocation of 15 watts (W) of power from the power supply unit 108 of the computing device 100 Second device 104 can include a second power protocol. The first power protocol of first device 102 and the second power protocol of second device 104 can be different power protocols, as is further described herein.

[0022] in some examples, second device 104 can be a universal serial bus (USB) component. As used herein, the term“USB component” refers to an electrical device having a port to allow a peripheral USB device having a standard connector and protocol to communicate with and/or receive a supply of power from the computing device via the port of the USB component. For example, second device 104 can be a USB component which can allow a peripheral USB device to communicate with (e.g., transmit information to, and/or receive information from) computing device 100 via a port of the USB component.

[0023] Second device 104 can include a supplemental I/O power input 106. As used herein, the term“supplemental I/O power input” refers to a power receptacle to receive a connector from an auxiliary power connection. For example, supplemental I/O power input 106 can receive a connector of a power connection 112 from power supply unit 108 of computing device 100, where the auxiliary power connection 112 can provide allocated power to second device 104, as is further described herein. As used herein, the term“power

connection” refers to a device that allows electrically operated equipment to be connected to one another.

[0024] Power supply unit 108 included in computing device 100 can provide an allocated amount of power to second device 104 via a power connection. For example, in an instance in which first device 102 does not exist or is not using a peak power draw of first device 102, power supply unit 108 can reallocate auxiliary power to second device 1Q4via auxiliary power connection 112 connected to supplemental I/O power input 106, as is further described herein. As used herein, the term“peak power draw” refers to a maximum amount of power draw for a particular device.

[0025] Supplemental I/O power input 106 can allocate power from power supply 108 to second device 104 based on whether a power consumption by first device 102 from the first power allocation is below a peak power draw. For example, a power supply unit 108 of computing device 100 can include a total output power of 800 W. Various devices (e.g., processor, memory, storage, audio devices, graphics devices, fans, I/O devices, etc.) in computing device 100 may have a power allocation of 600 W of power, where an amount of power (e.g., 200 W) is unused. For instance, the processor, memory, storage, audio devices, graphics devices, and fans may have a power allocation 500 W of power, and first device 102 may have a power allocation of 100 W of power, leaving 200 W of power generated by the power supply unused. First device 102 may utilize 100 W of power, which is below a peak power draw (e.g., 200 W of power) such that power may be allocated to second device 104 by power supply unit 108 via supplemental I/O power input 106.

[0026] As illustrated in Figure 1 , supplemental I/O power input 106 can be connected to second device 104. Supplemental I/O power input 106 can be connected to power supply unit 108 via auxiliary power connection 112. Power supply unit 108 can allocate power to second device 104 via the auxiliary power connection 112 and supplemental I/O power input 106.

[0027] Supplemental I/O power input 106 can allocate power intended for first device 102 having a first power protocol to second device 104 having a second power protocol. For example, as described above, first device 102 can be a PCie device, and second device 104 can be a USB component. The power protocols of powering a PCIe device and powering a USB component may be different power protocols. However, power intended for the PCie device can be allocated from the PCie device to the USB component by power supply 108 via supplemental I/O power input 106 from an auxiliary power connection 112 connected to the PCie device in other words, supplemental I/O power input 106 can be a power input that can be shaped to receive a connector of auxiliary power connection 112, where the connector is for a PCie device power protocol and the supplemental I/O power input 106 is for a USB component power protocol. For example, as described above, the PCie device may have a power allocation of 100 W from the power supply unit 108 of computing device 100 and can allocate power from the power supply unit 108 (e.g., 75 W) to the USB component via supplemental I/O power input 106. [0028] Allocation of an additional 85 W to second device 104 can allow for the USB component to receive 100 W of power instead of the original power allocation of 15 W. The additional 85 W allocated to second device 104 by power supply unit 108 via supplemental I/O power input 106 can provide for additional I/O functionality for a peripheral device connected to second device 104. For example, a USB component having 100 W of allocated power (rather than 15 W of allocated power) can enable certain I/O functionality of a USB peripheral device connected to the USB component (e.g., second device 104), including the ability to provide for USB charging of the peripheral USB device, may be able to support USB peripheral devices with higher power demands (e.g., power a display, head-mounted display, high-performance external storage, external graphics capabilities, laptop and/or device charging, etc.) [0029] Figure 2 is a diagram of an example computing device 200 for power allocation consistent with the disclosure. As illustrated in Figure 2, computing device 200 can include first device 202-1 , 202-2, second device 204, and power supply unit 208.

[0030] As described in connection with Figure 1 , computing device 200 can include power supply unit 208. Power supply unit 208 can provide power to first devices 202-1 , 202-2 and second device 204, among other devices included in computing device 200 (e.g., processor, memory, storage, audio devices, graphics devices, fans, etc.) For example, power supply unit 208 can generate 800 W of power, and provide power from the total 800 W to the various devices included in computing device 200 (e.g., the processor, memory, storage, audio devices, graphics devices, fans, first devices 202-1 , 202-2, and second device 204, etc.)

[0031] Computing device 200 can include first device 202-1. in some examples, first device 202-1 can be a PCIe device. The PCIe device can allow a peripheral device to communicate with computing device 200 via the PCIe device. The PCIe device can have a power allocation (e.g., 100 W) from power supply unit 208 via main power connection 210-1. Additionally, the PCIe device can include an auxiliary power connection 212-1. [0032] Although first device 202-1 is described above as being a PCIe device, examples of the disclosure are not so limited. For example, first device 202-1 can be a SATA device, a four-pin legacy power device, among other types of devices.

[0033] Computing device 200 can include first device 202-2. in some examples, first device 202-2 can be a SATA device. The SATA device can allow a peripheral SATA device to communicate with computing device 200 via the SATA device. The SATA device can have a power allocation (e.g , 50 W) from power supply unit 208 via main power connection 210-1. Additionally, the SATA device can include an auxiliary power connection 212-2.

[0034] Although first device 202-1 is described above as being a SATA device, examples of the disclosure are not so limited. For example, first device 202-1 can be a PCIe device, a four-pin legacy power device, among other types of devices.

[0035] Although computing device 200 is illustrated in Figure 2 and described above as including two first devices 202-1 and 202-2, examples of the disclosure are not so limited. For example, computing device 200 can include less than two first devices or more than two first devices (e.g., computing device 200 can include 202-N first devices, where N is an amount of first devices included in computing device 200).

[0036] Computing device 200 can include second device 204. In some examples, second device 204 can be a USB component. The USB component can allow a peripheral USB device to communicate with computing device 200 via the USB component. The USB component can have a power allocation (e.g., 15 W) from power supply unit 208 via main power connection 210-3.

[0037] With the 15 W of allocated power from power supply unit 208, second device 204 (e.g., USB component) can provide functionality such as communication to a peripheral device. For example, 15 W of allocated power to second device 204 can allow a peripheral device connected to second device 204 to transmit information to computing device 200 and/or receive information from computing device 200. However, the 15 W of allocated power may not allow for some functionality. For example, the USB component may not be able to support certain USB peripheral devices with higher power demands (e.g., power a display, head-mounted display, high-performance external storage, external graphics capabilities, laptop and/or device charging, etc.), among other functionalities. Accordingly, power can be reallocated from a first device 202-1 or 202-2 based on whether a power consumption by the first device 202-1 or 202-2 is below a peak power draw of the first device 202-1 or 202-2, as is further described herein.

[0038] Although second device 204 is described above as being a USB component, examples of the disclosure are not so limited. For example, second device 204 can be a PCIe device, among other types of devices.

[0039] Second device 204 can include supplemental I/O power input 206. Supplemental I/O power input 206 can be connected to power supply unit 208 and can utilize power intended for first device 202-1 or 202-2 that has been reallocated to second device 204 when a power consumption by first device 202-1 or 202-2 is below a peak power draw of first device 202-1 or 202-2.

[0040] For example, first device 202-1 can have a peak power draw of 200 W of power from power supply unit 208 and first device 202-2 can have a peak power draw of 50 W of power from power supply unit 208. First device 202-1 can utilize 100 W, where first device 202-2 can utilize 50 W. Accordingly, power supply unit 208 can reallocate power intended for first device 202-1 to second device 204, as is further described herein.

[0041] Power supply unit 208 can include a main power connection 210-1 and auxiliary power connection 212-1. Power supply unit 208 can allocate power to second device 204 by connecting the auxiliary power connection 212-1 intended for first device 202-1 to the supplemental I/O power input 206 connected to second device 204. For instance, power supply unit 208 can reallocate 85 W of power to second device 204, allowing second device 204 to have a power allocation of 100 W of power (e.g., 15 W of power from the power supply unit 208 via main power connection 210-3 and 85 W of allocated power intended for first device 202-1) via auxiliary power connection 212-1 and supplemental I/O power input 206. [0042] Although the first device 202-1 is described above as having a power consumption from the power allocation being below a peak power draw, examples of the disclosure are not so limited. For example, first device 202-1 can have a peak power draw of 100 W of power from power supply unit 208 and first device 202-2 have a peak power draw of 75 W of power from power supply unit 208. First device 202-1 can utilize 100 W, where first device 202-2 can utilize 50 W. Accordingly, power supply 208 can reallocate power to second device 204 by connecting the auxiliary power connection 212-2 intended for first device 202-2 to the supplemental I/O power input 206 connected to second device 204 to supplement the power provided to second device 204 by the power supply unit 208 via main power connection 210-2.

[0043] As described above, in some examples, first device 202-1 can be a PCIe device and second device 204 can be a USB component. Auxiliary power connection 212-1 from the PCIe device can be connected to

supplemental I/O power input 206 to allocate power intended for the PCIe device to the USB component. That is, supplemental I/O power input 206 can be shaped to receive a connector of auxiliary power connection 212-1 such that the supplemental I/O power input 206 can allocate power intended for the PCIe device having a PCIe power protocol to the USB component having a USB power protocol. In other words, the supplemental I/O power input 206 can be shaped to receive a power connector of a PCIe power protocol to allocate power from the PCIe device to the USB component via the auxiliary power connection 212-1.

[0044] In some examples, first device 202-1 can be a SATA device and second device 204 can be a USB component. Auxiliary power connection 212- 1 from the SATA device can be connected to supplemental I/O power input 206 to allocate power intended for the SATA device to the USB component. That is, supplemental I/O power input 206 can be shaped to receive a connector of auxiliary power connection 212-1 such that the supplemental I/O power input 206 can allocate power intended for the SATA device having a SATA power protocol to the USB component having a USB power protocol. In other words, the supplemental I/O power input 206 can be shaped to receive a power connector of a SATA power protocol to allocate power from the SATA device to the USB component via the auxiliary power connection 212-1.

[0045] In some examples, first device 202-1 can be a four-pin legacy power device and second device 204 can be a USB component. Auxiliary power connection 212-1 from the four-pin legacy power device can be connected to supplemental I/O power input 206 to allocate power intended for the four-pin legacy power device to the USB component. That is, supplemental I/O power input 206 can be shaped to receive a connector of auxiliary power connection 212-1 such that the supplemental I/O power input 206 can allocate power intended for the four-pin legacy power device having a four-pin legacy power protocol to the USB component having a USB power protocol. In other words, the supplemental I/O power input 206 can be shaped to receive a power connector of a four-pin legacy power protocol to allocate power from the four-pin legacy power device to the USB component via the auxiliary power connection 212-1.

[0046] Although examples described above describe power allocation from a PCIe device/SATA device/four-pin legacy power device (e.g., first device 202-1 or 202-2) to a USB component (e.g., second device 204), examples of the disclosure are not so limited. For example, power intended for SATA device/four-pin legacy power device (e.g., first device 202-1 or 202-2) can be allocated to a PCIe device (e.g., second device 204), among other examples.

[0047] Power allocation according to the disclosure can allow for unused power generated by the power supply unit of a computing device to be allocated for use by I/O devices. For example, an unused amount of power can be reallocated from a first device having a first power protocol to a second device having a second power protocol. Power allocation across power protocols can provide additional power to a second device to allow for the enabling of certain functionality for a peripheral device connected to the second device while leveraging standard power connections to reduce impact to the cost of the computing device. Additional power to the second device can allow for the use of higher powered peripheral devices, charging of peripheral devices, etc. [0048] Figure 3 is a diagram of an example device 314 for power allocation consistent with the disclosure. As illustrated in Figure 3, device 314 can be second device 304 (e.g., second device 104, 204, as described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, respectively). As described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, second device 304 can be a USB device, a PCIe device, etc [0049] In some examples, second device 304 can be a USB device. Second device 304 can include a power logic integrated circuit (IC) 316 and a port 318. A peripheral device may be connected to port 318. The peripheral device may be able to communicate (e.g., transfer information to, and receive information from) with a computing device having second device 304 via port 318.

[0050] As described in connection with Figure 2, second device 304 can include a power connection from a power supply unit of the computing device. Second device 304 can include a power allocation from the power supply unit. For example, second device 304 may be allocated 15 W from the power supply unit.

[0051] In some examples, a power allocation of 15 W may not be suitable for use with some peripheral devices. For example, 15 W provided to second device 304 may not be enough power to enable certain functionalities of peripheral devices able to be connected to second device 304 via port 318, such as charging of the peripheral device, may not be able to support certain peripheral devices with higher power demands (e.g., power a display, head- mounted display, high-performance externa! storage, externa! graphics capabilities, laptop and/or device charging, etc.), among other functionalities. Accordingly, power intended for a first device may be allocated to second device 304 based on the first device having a power consumption from the power allocation of the first device that is below a peak power draw, as is described in connection with Figures 1 and 2.

[0052] Power may be allocated to second device 304 via supplemental I/O power input 306. As illustrated in Figure 3, second device 304 can be connected to supplemental I/O power input 306. Supplemental I/O power input 306 can be shaped to receive a connector of an auxiliary power connection intended for the first device such that supplemental I/O power input 306 can reallocate power intended for the first device having a first power protocol to second device 304 having a second power protocol. For example, the first device can be a PCIe device and the second device 304 can be a USB component. A connector of an auxiliary power connection intended for the PCIe device can be connected to the supplemental I/O power input 306 to reallocate power intended for the PCIe device having a PCIe power protocol to the USB component having a USB power protocol.

[0053] Second device 304 can, in some examples, include a power logic integrated circuit 316. As used herein, the term“integrated circuit” refers to an electronic circuit made from discrete parts on a small chip. The power logic integrated circuit 316 can determine when a connector of an auxiliary power connection is connected to the supplemental I/O power input 306. For example, the power logic integrated circuit 316 can detect a connection from a

motherboard of the computing device having second device 304 to determine the connector of the auxiliary connection intended for the first device is connected to the supplemental I/O power input 306, allowing second device 304 to utilize the allocated power intended for the first device.

[0054] Accordingly, allocation of additional power to second device 304 can enable certain I/O functionality of a peripheral device connected to port 313. For example, second device 304 can be a USB component and a peripheral USB device can be connected to the USB component via USB port 318. The additional power can enable certain I/O functionality of the USB peripheral device connected to the USB port 318 including the ability to provide for USB charging of the USB peripheral device, support for USB peripheral devices with higher power demands (e.g., power a display, head-mounted display, high- performance external storage, external graphics capabilities, laptop and/or device charging, etc.), among other functionalities.

[0055] Although second device 304 is illustrated in Figure 3 as including one USB port 318, examples of the disclosure are not so limited. For example, second device 304 can be a USB component having multiple (e.g., three) USB ports in some examples, power allocated to the USB device can be allocated to multiple USB ports of the USB device. For example, 75 W of power can be allocated to the USB device, and 25 W of power can be allocated to each USB port of the three USB ports of the USB device. Although not illustrated in Figure 3 for clarity and so as not to obscure examples of the disclosure, a power delivery integrated circuit can be included in second device 304 to allocate the power to individual USB ports of the multiple USB ports of second device 304.

[0058] Figure 4 is an example of a method 420 consistent with the disclosure. Method 420 may be performed, for example, via a computing device (e.g., computing device 100, 200, as described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, respectively).

[0057] At 422, the method 420 includes determining whether a power consumption by a peripheral component interconnect express (PCie) device of a computing device having a first power allocation is below a peak power draw of the PCIe device. For example, a power supply unit of a computing device can allocate a first amount of power (e.g., 100 W) to the PCie device, where the peak power draw is 200 W. That is, the PCie device of the computing device has power allocation that is below the peak power draw.

[0058] At 424, the method 420 includes determining whether an auxiliary power connection of the PCie device is connected to a supplemental input/output (I/O) power input of the computing device. The supplemental I/O power input can be connected to a USB component. For example, the supplemental I/O power input can be shaped to receive a connector of the auxiliary power connection of the PCie device such that the auxiliary power connection of the PCie device can be connected to the supplemental I/O power input.

[0059] At 426, the method 420 includes allocating power from the auxiliary power connection of the PCie device to the USB component. For example, the USB component may have a power allocation of 15 W of power from the power supply unit of the computing device, which may not be enough power to enable certain functionality of peripheral devices that can be connected to the USB component. As such, power (e.g., 85 W, for example) can be allocated to the USB component by the power supply unit and supplemental I/O power input in response to the PCIe device having the first power allocation being below the peak power draw of the PCIe device and the PCIe device being connected to the supplemental I/O power input (and accordingly, the USB component) via the auxiliary power connection.

Accordingly, additional power can be allocated to the USB component (e.g , 100 W after connection of the auxiliary power connection to the supplemental I/O power input connected to the USB component) to enable certain functionality for a peripheral USB device connected to the USB component (e.g., allowing for the use of higher powered peripheral USB devices, charging of peripheral USB devices, etc.) while leveraging standard power connections to reduce impact to the cost of the computing device.

[0060] In the foregoing detailed description of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration how examples of the disclosure may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the examples of this disclosure, and it is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and that process, electrical, and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0061] The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit corresponds to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. Similar elements or components between different figures may be identified by the use of similar digits. For example, 102 may reference element“02” in Figure 1 , and a similar element may be referenced as 202 in Figure 2.

[0062] Elements illustrated in the various figures herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide a plurality of additional examples of the disclosure. In addition, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the examples of the disclosure, and should not be taken in a limiting sense. As used herein, "a plurality of” an element and/or feature can refer to more than one of such elements and/or features.