Hub having complex power converters

• US 9,864,421 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2016
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chia Wei Lin, Dong-Sheng Lin, Kuang Feng Lin, Simpower Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Simpower Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Li, Dong-Sheng, Lin, Chia-Wei, Lin, Kuang-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Tseng, Cheng-Yuan
• Application Number:
  US14/992,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20160202743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40045 Details regarding the feeding of energy to the node from the bus

Abstract

A hub electrically connected to an electronic equipment and at least a portable device located in external environment is provided. The hub includes a first connector, at least a second connector, a controller, and a first DC/DC converter. The first connector is electrically connected to the electronic equipment, the second connector is electrically connected to the portable device. The controller is electrically connected between the first connector and the second connector, and the controller has a data transmission between the portable devices and the electronic equipment mutually. In addition, a signal is transmitted to the portable devices suitably by the controller so that the portable device being with rapid charge mode. An input terminal of the first DC/DC converter is electrically connected to the electronic equipment, and an output terminal of the first DC/DC converter is electrically connected to the portable device, the first DC/DC converter is applied to output stable voltage to the portable device.

Claims

1. A hub electrically connecting to electronic equipment and a portable device located in an external environment via an Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable, the USB cable comprising a signal transmission line and a power transmission line, the hub comprising:

a first connector, electrically connected to the electronic equipment via the USB cable;

a second connector, electrically connected to the portable device via the USB cable;

a controller, electrically connected between the first connector and the second connector, the controller has data transmission between the portable device and the electronic equipment mutually via the signal transmission line; and

a first direct current (DC)/DC converter, an input terminal of the first DC/DC converter is electrically connected to the electronic equipment via the power transmission line, an output terminal of the first DC/DC converter is electrically connected to the portable device via the power transmission line, the first DC/DC converter is applied to output stable voltage to the portable device;

wherein the first connector is USB 3.1 Power Delivery (PD) type C port, and the electronic equipment is operable either in a charged mode or in a power supplying mode via the USB PD protocol.

2. The hub of claim 1, further comprising a power converter and a third connector, the power converter is electrically connected to alternating current (AC) source located in external environment via third connector, the power converter comprising:

an AC/DC converter, an input terminal of the AC/DC converter is electrically connected to the AC source via the third connector; and

a second DC/DC converter, an input terminal of the second DC/DC converter is electrically connected to the AC/DC converter, and an output terminal of the second DC/DC converter is electrically connected to the portable device.

3. The hub of claim 2, further comprising a fourth connector, the fourth connector is electrically connected to an electronic equipment or a DC power located in external environment, wherein the fourth connector disposed inside of the hub is electrically connected to an output terminal of the AC/DC converter and the input terminal of the second DC/DC converter.

4. The hub of claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth connector, electrically connected to an electronic device or a DC power located in external environment; and

a second DC/DC converter, an input terminal of the second DC/DC converter is electrically connected to the fourth connector, and the output terminal of the second DC/DC converter is electrically connected to the portable device.

5. The hub of claim 2, further comprising a current-sharing circuit, wherein the output terminal of the first DC/DC converter and the output terminal of the second DC/DC converter are electrically connected to the current-sharing circuit, and an output terminal of the current-sharing circuit is electrically connected to the portable device.

6. The hub of claim 2, wherein the second DC/DC converter being with constant current and constant voltage.

7. The hub of claim 1, further comprising a power controller and a current detector, the power controller is electrically connected to the first DC/DC converter, the current detector is electrically connected between the first DC/DC converter and the electronic equipment, an output voltage and an output current of the electronic equipment is detected by the power controller via the current detector;

when the output voltage is less than a preset voltage value, or the output current is more than a preset current value, the output voltage of the first DC/DC converter is lowered by the power controller.

8. The hub of claim 1, further comprising a bridge controller, the bridge controller is electrically connected to the controller, and the bridge controller is applied to perform conversion between different data formats.

9. The hub of claim 1, wherein the electronic equipment has an USB port, the USB port is electrically connected to the first connector.

10. The hub of claim 2, further comprising:

a first current detector, electrically connected to the second DC/DC converter for detecting an output voltage and an output current of the second DC/DC converter;

a third DC/DC converter, electrically connected to the first current detector;

a fourth DC/DC converter, electrically connected to the third DC/DC converter, converting an output voltage of the third DC/DC converter to a required charging voltage of the portable device;

an energy storage, electrically connected between the third DC/DC converter and the fourth DC/DC converter; and

an energy storage controlling circuit, electrically connected to the second DC/DC converter, the first current detector, the third DC/DC converter, and the energy storage, the energy storage controlling circuit has a first preset current and a first preset voltage;

wherein, when the output current of the second DC/DC converter is less than the first preset current value, and the output voltage of the second DC/DC converter is more than the first preset voltage value, the output voltage of the third DC/DC converter is set to be more than an output voltage of the energy storage by the energy storage controlling circuit so that the portable device and the energy storage are charged by the second DC/DC converter at the same time;

when the output current of the second DC/DC converter is more than the first preset current value or the output voltage of the second DC/DC converter is less than the first preset voltage value, the output voltage of the third DC/DC converter drops to the voltage of the energy storage by the energy storage controlling circuit, and the portable device is charged by the second DC/DC converter and the energy storage simultaneously.

11. The hub of claim 10, further comprising a second current detector and a first switch, the second current detector and the first switch are electrically connected to each other, the second current detector is electrically connected to the energy storage controlling circuit and the node between the third DC/DC converter and the fourth DC/DC converter respectively, the first switch is electrically connected to the energy storage controlling circuit and the energy storage respectively, the second current detector is applied for detecting a charging current and a discharging current of the energy storage;

wherein, when the charging current or the discharging current of the energy storage is more than a second preset current value, or when a charging voltage or a discharging voltage of the energy storage is beyond a second preset voltage value, the first switch is not conducted.

12. The hub of claim 11, wherein the electronic equipment can be charged, and the hub further comprising:

a fifth DC/DC converter, electrically connected to the AC/DC converter;

a second switch, electrically connected between the electronic equipment and the fifth DC/DC converter, and the second switch is electrically connected between the electronic equipment and the first DC/DC converter; and

a controlling circuit, an output terminal of the controlling circuit is electrically connected to the fifth DC/DC converter and the second switch, and an input terminal of the controlling circuit is electrically connected to the electronic equipment for signal transmission each other;

wherein, the output voltage of the fifth DC/DC converter is adjustable by the controlling circuit, the controlling circuit controls the second switch to enable or disable the electrical connection between the electronic equipment and the fifth DC/DC converter, and enable or disable the electrical connection between the electronic equipment and the first DC/DC converter.

13. The hub of claim 12, wherein when the third connector is not electrically connected to the AC source, the first connector is electrically connected to the electronic equipment, and when the fourth connector is not electrically connected to the electronic device or the direct current (DC) power, the controlling circuit controls the second switch to disable the electrical connection between the electronic equipment and the fifth DC/DC converter, and enable the electrical connection between the electronic equipment and the first DC/DC converter.

14. The hub of claim 12, wherein when the third connector is electrically connected to the AC source, and the first connector is electrically connected to the electronic equipment, the controlling circuit controls the second switch to enable the electrical connection between the electronic equipment and the fifth DC/DC converter, and disenable the electrical connection between the electronic equipment and the first DC/DC converter.

15. The hub of claim 12, wherein when the third connector is not electrically connected to the AC source, the first connector is electrically connected to the electronic equipment, and when the fourth connector is electrically connected to the DC power, the controlling circuit controls the second switch to enable the electrical connection between the electronic equipment and the fifth DC/DC converter, and disenable the electrical connection between the electronic equipment and the first DC/DC converter.

16. The hub of claim 12, further comprising:

a third switch, electrically connected between the AC/DC converter and the fifth DC/DC converter; and

a sixth DC/DC converter, electrically connected between the AC/DC converter and the fourth connector;

wherein, the sixth DC/DC converter is a boost converter and electrically connected to the second switch, the second DC/DC converter is a buck converter and electrically connected to the second switch.

17. The hub of claim 16, wherein the AC/DC converter is electrically connected to the second switch.

18. The hub of claim 1, wherein the rapid charge mode means the charging current for the portable device is higher than 500 mA.

20. The hub of claim 1, wherein a signal is transmitted to the portable device suitably by the controller so that the portable device being with rapid charge mode.

19. A hub electrically connecting to electronic equipment and a portable device located in an external environment, comprising:

a first connector, electrically connected to the electronic equipment;

a second connector, electrically connected to the portable device;

a controller, electrically connected between the first connector and the second connector, the controller has data transmission between the portable device and the electronic equipment mutually;

a first current detector, electrically connected to the first connector for detecting an output voltage and an output current of the electronic equipment;

a third direct current (DC)/DC converter, electrically connected to the first current detector;

a fourth DC/DC converter, electrically connected to the third DC/DC converter and the second connector, converting an output voltage of the third DC/DC converter to a required charging voltage for the portable device;

an energy storage, electrically connected between the third DC/DC converter and the fourth DC/DC converter; and

an energy storage controlling circuit, electrically connected to the electronic equipment, the first current detector, the third DC/DC converter, and the energy storage, the energy storage controlling circuit has a first preset current value and a first preset voltage value;

wherein, when the output current of the electronic equipment is less than the first preset current value, and the output voltage of the third DC/DC converter is more than the voltage of the energy storage, by the energy storage controlling circuit so that the portable device and the energy storage are charged by the electronic equipment at the same time;

when the output current of the electronic equipment is more than the first preset current value or the output voltage of the electronic equipment is less than the first preset voltage value, the output voltage of the third DC/DC converter drops to the voltage of the energy storage by the energy storage controlling circuit, and the portable device are charged by the electronic equipment and the energy storage simultaneously.

21. The hub of claim 19, wherein a signal is transmitted to the portable device suitably by the controller so that the portable device being with rapid charge mode.

22. The hub of claim 19, wherein the first connector is Universal Serial Bus (USB) 3.1 Power Delivery (PD) type C port, and electronic equipment is operable either in a charged mode or in a power supplying mode via the USB PD protocol.

23. The hub of claim 21, wherein the rapid charge mode means the charging current for the portable device is higher than 500 mA.

24. A hub electrically connecting to electronic equipment and a portable device located in external environment via an Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable, the USB cable comprising a signal transmission line and a power transmission line, the hub comprising:

a first connector, electrically connected to the electronic equipment via the USB cable;

a second connector, electrically connected to the portable device via the USB cable;

a controller, electrically connected between the first connector and the second connector, the controller has data transmission between the portable device and the electronic equipment mutually via signal transmission line; and

a first direct current (DC)/DC converter, an input terminal of the first DC/DC converter is electrically connected to the electronic equipment via the power transmission line, an output terminal of the first DC/DC converter is electrically connected to the portable device via the power transmission line, the first DC/DC converter is applied to output stable voltage to the portable device;

a fourth connector, electrically connected to an electronic device or a direct current power located in external environment; and

a second DC/DC converter, an input terminal of the second DC/DC converter is electrically connected to the fourth connector, and the output terminal of the second DC/DC converter is electrically connected to the portable device.