LOAD-TESTING CIRCUIT FOR USB PORTS

• US 20140218047A1
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scienbizip Consulting (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: ZHOU, HAI-QING
• Granted Patent: US 9,141,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/603
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/317 Testing of digital circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/221 to test buses, lines or interfaces, e.g. stuck-at or open line faults
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/24 Marginal checking or other specified testing methods not covered by G06F11/26, e.g. race tests

Abstract

A load-testing circuit is used for simulating maximum standard load currents for different types of USB ports. The load-testing circuit includes a first electronic switch, a second electronic switch, and a current selection module including a plurality of current branch circuits. When one of the current branch circuits is activated, a voltage at a third terminal of the first electronic switch is supplied to a first terminal of the second electronic switch through the activated current branch circuit to turn on the second electronic switch. A current of the third terminal of the first electronic switch is approximately equal to a current of the activated current branch circuit.

Claims

1. A load-testing circuit to simulate maximum standard load currents for different types of USB ports, each type of USB port comprising a power terminal, the load-testing circuit comprising:

a first resistor, a second resistor, and a third resistor;

a current selection module comprising a plurality of current branch circuits;

a first electronic switch comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the power terminal through the first resistor, a second terminal electrically connected to the power terminal, and a third terminal electrically connected to each current branch circuit; and

a second electronic switch comprising a first terminal electrically connected to each current branch circuit through the second resistor, a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal of the first electronic switch through the third resistor, and a third terminal grounded;

wherein in response to one of the current branch circuit being activated, a voltage at the third terminal of the first electronic switch is supplied to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the activated current branch circuit and the second resistor in that order to turn on the second electronic switch, and a current of the third terminal of the first electronic switch is approximately equal to a current of the activated current branch circuit.

2. The load-testing circuit of claim 1, wherein each current branch circuit comprises:

a fourth resistor;

a first switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the second resistor; and

a relay comprising;

a coil comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the third terminal of the first electronic switch, and a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal of the first switch; and

a second switch comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the third terminal of the first electronic switch, and a second terminal grounded through the fourth resistor;

wherein in response to the first switch of one of current branch circuits being turned on, the one of current branch circuits is activated, a current pass through the coil, the second switch is turned on, a voltage at the third terminal of the first electronic switch is supplied to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the coil, the first switch, and the second resistor in that order to turn on the second electronic switch, and the current of the third terminal of the first electronic switch is approximately equal to a current of the fourth resistor of the activated current branch circuit.

3. The load-testing circuit of claim 2, wherein the current selection module comprises a first current branch circuit, a second current branch circuit, a third current branch circuit, and a fourth current branch circuit;

the second current branch circuit further comprises a first diode, the first diode comprise an anode electrically connected to the second terminal of the first switch of the second current branch circuit and a cathode electrically connected to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the second resistor;

the third current branch circuit further comprises a second diode and a third diode, the second diode comprises an anode electrically connected to the second terminal of the first switch of the third current branch circuit and a cathode, the third diode comprises an anode electrically connected to the cathode of the second diode and a cathode electrically connected to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the second resistor;

the fourth current branch circuit further comprises a fourth diode, a fifth diode, and a sixth diode, the fourth diode comprises an anode electrically connected to the second terminal of the first switch of the fourth current branch circuit and a cathode, the fifth diode comprises an anode electrically connected to the cathode of the fourth diode and a cathode, the sixth diode comprises an anode electrically connected to the cathode of the fifth diode and a cathode electrically connected to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the second resistor.

4. The load-testing circuit of claim 3, wherein when the first switch of the first current branch circuit is turned on, the first current branch circuit is activated, a voltage of the fourth resistor of the first current branch circuit is approximately equal to a sum of a voltage at the first terminal of the second electronic switch and a voltage of the second resistor, and the current of the third terminal of the first electronic switch is approximately equal to a current of the fourth resistor of the first current branch circuit;

when the first switch of the second current branch circuit is turned on, the second current branch circuit is activated, the first diode is turned on, a voltage of the fourth resistor of the second current branch circuit is approximately equal to a sum of the voltage at the first terminal of the second electronic switch, the voltage of the second resistor, and a voltage of the first diode, and the current of the third terminal of the first electronic switch is approximately equal to a current of the fourth resistor of the second current branch circuit;

when the first switch of the third current branch circuit is turned on, the third current branch circuit is activated, the second diode and the third diode are turned on, a voltage of the fourth resistor of the third current branch circuit is approximately equal to a sum of the voltage at the first terminal of the second electronic switch, the voltage of the second resistor, a voltage of the second diode, and a voltage of the third diode, and the current of the third terminal of the first electronic switch is approximately equal to a current of the fourth resistor of the third current branch circuit;

when the first switch of the fourth current branch circuit is turned on, the fourth current branch circuit is activated, the fourth diode, the fifth diode, and the sixth diode are turned on, a voltage of the fourth resistor of the fourth current branch circuit is approximately equal to a sum of the voltage at the first terminal of the second electronic switch, the voltage of the second resistor, a voltage of the fourth diode, a voltage of the fifth diode, and a voltage of the sixth diode, and the current of the third terminal of the first electronic switch is approximately equal to a current of the fourth resistor of the fourth current branch circuit.

5. The load-testing circuit of claim 2, wherein each current branch circuit further comprises a seventh diode comprising an anode electrically connected to the second terminal of the coil and a cathode electrically connected to the first terminal of the coil, the seventh diode discharges electrical energy stored in the coil.

6. The load-testing circuit of claim 2, wherein a resistance of the fourth resistor of each current branch circuit is different.

7. The load-testing circuit of claim 1, wherein each of the first electronic switch and the second electronic switch is an npn-type bipolar junction transistor (BJT), and the first terminal, the second terminal, and the third terminal of each of the first electronic switch and the second electronic switch respectively corresponding to a base, a collector, and an emitter of the npn-type BJT.

8. The load-testing circuit of claim 1, wherein each of the first resistor and the second resistor is a current-limiting resistor, and the third resistor is a voltage-dividing resistor.

9. A load-testing circuit to simulate maximum standard load currents for different types of USB ports, each type of USB port comprising a power terminal, the load-testing circuit comprising:

a first resistor, a second resistor, and a third resistor;

a first electronic switch comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the power terminal through the first resistor, a second terminal electrically connected to the power terminal, and a third terminal;

a second electronic switch comprising a first terminal, a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal of the first electronic switch through the second resistor, and a third terminal grounded;

a first current branch circuit comprising;

a fourth resistor;

a first switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the third resistor; and

a first relay comprising a first coil comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the third terminal of the first electronic switch and a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal of the first switch, and a second switch comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the third terminal of the first electronic switch and a second terminal grounded through the fourth resistor; and

a second current branch circuit comprising;

a fifth resistor;

a first diode comprising an anode and a cathode electrically connected to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the third resistor;

a third switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal electrically connected to the anode of the first diode; and

a second relay comprising a second coil comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the third terminal of the first electronic switch and a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal of the third switch, and a fourth switch comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the third terminal of the first electronic switch and a second terminal grounded through the fifth resistor;

wherein in response to the first switch being turned on, the first current branch circuit is activated, a current passes through the first coil, the second switch is turned on, a voltage at the third terminal of the first electronic switch is supplied to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the first coil, the first switch, and the third resistor in that order to turn on the second electronic switch, a voltage of the fourth resistor is approximately equal to a sum of a voltage at the first terminal of the second electronic switch and a voltage of the third resistor, and a current of the third terminal of the first electronic switch is approximately equal to a current of the fourth resistor; and

wherein in response to the third switch being turned on, the second current branch circuit is activated, the first diode is turned on, a current passes through the second coil, the fourth switch is turned on, a voltage at the third terminal of the first electronic switch is supplied to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the second coil, the third switch, the first diode, and the third resistor in that order to turn on the second electronic switch, a voltage of the fifth resistor is approximately equal to a sum of the voltage at the first terminal of the second electronic switch, the voltage of the third resistor, and a voltage of the first diode, and the current of the third terminal of the first electronic switch is approximately equal to a current of the fifth resistor.

10. The load-testing circuit of claim 9, further comprising a third current branch circuit comprising:

a sixth resistor;

a second diode comprising an anode and a cathode electrically connected to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the third resistor;

a third diode comprising an anode and a cathode electrically connected to the anode of the second diode;

a fifth switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal electrically connected to the anode of the third diode; and

a third relay comprising;

a third coil comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the third terminal of the first electronic switch, and a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal of the fifth switch, and

a sixth switch comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the third terminal of the first electronic switch, and a second terminal grounded through the sixth resistor;

wherein in response to the fifth switch being turned on, the third current branch circuit is activated, the second diode and the third diode are turned on, a current passes through the third coil, the sixth switch is turned on, a voltage at the third terminal of the first electronic switch is supplied to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the third coil, the fifth switch, the third diode, the second diode, and the third resistor in that order to turn on the second electronic switch, a voltage of the sixth resistor is approximately equal to a sum of the voltage at the first terminal of the second electronic switch, the voltage of the third resistor, a voltage of the second diode, and a voltage of the third diode, and the current of the third terminal of the first electronic switch is approximately equal to a current of the sixth resistor.

11. The load-testing circuit of claim 9, further comprising a fourth current branch circuit comprising:

a seventh resistor;

a fourth diode comprising an anode and a cathode electrically connected to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the third resistor;

a fifth diode comprising an anode and a cathode electrically connected to the anode of the fourth diode;

a sixth diode comprising an anode and a cathode electrically connected to the anode of the fifth diode

a seventh switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal electrically connected to the anode of the sixth diode; and

a fourth relay comprising;

a fourth coil comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the third terminal of the first electronic switch, and a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal of the seventh switch, and

an eighth switch comprising a first terminal electrically connected to the third terminal of the first electronic switch, and a second terminal grounded through the seventh resistor;

wherein in response to the seventh switch being turned on, the fourth current branch circuit is activated, the fourth diode, the fifth diode, and the sixth diode are turned on, a current passes through the fourth coil, the eighth switch is turned on, a voltage at the third terminal of the first electronic switch is supplied to the first terminal of the second electronic switch through the fourth coil, the seventh switch, the sixth diode, the fifth diode, the fourth diode, and the third resistor in that order to turn on the second electronic switch, a voltage of the seventh resistor is approximately equal to a sum of the voltage at the first terminal of the second electronic switch, the voltage of the third resistor, a voltage of the fourth diode, a voltage of the fifth diode, and a voltage of the sixth diode, and the current of the third terminal of the first electronic switch is approximately equal to a current of the seventh resistor.

12. The load-testing circuit of claim 11, wherein the fourth current branch circuit further comprises a seventh diode comprising an anode electrically connected to the second terminal of the fourth coil and a cathode electrically connected to the first terminal of the fourth coil, the seventh diode discharges electrical energy stored in the fourth coil.

13. The load-testing circuit of claim 10, wherein the third current branch circuit further comprises an eighth diode comprising an anode electrically connected to the second terminal of the third coil and a cathode electrically connected to the first terminal of the third coil, the eighth diode discharges electricity energy storied in the third coil.

14. The load-testing circuit of claim 9, wherein the first current branch circuit further comprises an ninth diode comprising an anode electrically connected to the second terminal of the first coil and a cathode electrically connected to the first terminal of the first coil, the ninth diode discharges electricity energy storied in the first coil;

the second current branch circuit further comprises an tenth diode comprising an anode electrically connected to the second terminal of the second coil and a cathode electrically connected to the first terminal of the second coil, the tenth diode discharges electricity energy storied in the second coil.

15. The load-testing circuit of claim 9, wherein each of the first electronic switch and the second electronic switch is an npn-type bipolar junction transistor (BJT), and the first terminal, the second terminal, and the third terminal of each of the first electronic switch and the second electronic switch respectively correspond to a base, a collector, and an emitter of the npn-type BJT.

16. The load-testing circuit of claim 9, wherein each of the first resistor and the third resistor is a current-limiting resistor, and the second resistor is a voltage-dividing resistor.