PORT CONTROLLER WITH POWER CONTRACT NEGOTIATION CAPABILITY

• US 20170140887A1
• Filed: 11/14/2016
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: WATERS, Deric Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 10,692,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16576 comparing DC or AC voltage with one threshold G01R19/16514, G01R19/16519, G01R19/16528, G01R19/16533 and G01R19/1659 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/00 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/28 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection

Abstract

At least some embodiments are directed to an electronic device port system comprising a first device configured to negotiate power supply contracts from a power source via a universal serial bus (USB) cable. The system also comprises a second device configured to negotiate power supply contracts from the power source via the USB cable when the first device is unable to negotiate power supply contracts from the power source. The second device is configured to activate a switch after the second device negotiates a power supply contract with the power source. The switch is configured to permit the provision of power from the power source to a battery system of the electronic device per the negotiated power supply contract.

Claims

1. An electronic device port system, comprising:

a first device configured to negotiate power supply contracts from a power source via a universal serial bus (USB) cable; and

a second device configured to negotiate power supply contracts from the power source via the USB cable when the first device is unable to negotiate power supply contracts from the power source,

wherein the second device is configured to activate a switch after the second device negotiates a power supply contract with the power source, the switch configured to permit the provision of power from the power source to a battery system of the electronic device per the negotiated power supply contract.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the USB cable is a USB Type C cable with power delivery (PD) capability.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a Type C port manager.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second device comprises a Type C port controller.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second device is configured to determine that the first device is unable to negotiate power supply contracts based on a rail voltage supply that powers the first device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to source power to another electronic device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET).

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second device is configured to negotiate power supply contracts from the power source via a configuration channel (CC) in the USB cable.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the power supplied per the negotiated power supply contract is provided to the switch via a pair of dedicated power lines in the USB cable.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein, upon receipt of the power per the negotiated power supply contract, the battery system powers the first device, and wherein the second device is configured to relinquish power supply contract negotiations to the first device upon a determination that the first device is able to negotiate power supply contracts from the power source.

11. A system, comprising:

a battery system;

a DC-to-DC converter coupled to the battery system and configured to provide a rail voltage supply;

a port manager powered by the rail voltage supply and configured to negotiate power contracts with a power supply on behalf of the system via a universal serial bus (USB) cable; and

a port controller powered by the power supply via the USB cable and configured to negotiate power contracts with the power supply on behalf of the system via the USB cable when the port controller detects that the port manager is powered below a threshold level, the battery system is powered below another threshold level, or both.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the port controller is configured to determine that the port manager is powered below the threshold level via an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) connection.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the port controller is configured to determine that the battery system is powered below the another threshold level via the rail voltage supply.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the USB cable is a USB Type C cable with power delivery (PD) capability.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the power supply is a mains power adapter.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the power supply is a portable electronic device.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the system comprises a second port controller configured to negotiate power contracts with the power supply on behalf of the system via the USB cable when the second port controller detects that the port manager is powered below the threshold level, the battery system is powered below the another threshold level, or both, and wherein the second port controller negotiates a power contract with the power supply only when the port controller provides a permission indication to the second port controller.

18. A method, comprising:

using a device to negotiate power supply contracts from a power source via a data and power transmission cable;

determining that the device is not receiving power meeting a minimum threshold;

reviewing power supply options received from the power source via the data and power transmission cable;

selecting one of the received power supply options;

providing the power source with an indication of the selection;

receiving power from the power source in accordance with the selection; and

establishing an electrical pathway between the power source and a battery system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the device comprises a USB Type C port manager.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein establishing the electrical pathway between the power source and the battery system comprises closing a p-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) switch and closing an n-type MOSFET serially coupled to the p-type MOSFET.