SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AN OPERATING STATUS OF A CONNECTOR

• US 20180331548A1
• Filed: 06/29/2018
• Published: 11/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: Hsu, Chih-Yuan, Lee, Chi-Ming, Chen, Shih-Ming
• Granted Patent: US 10,554,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters

Abstract

According to at least one aspect, a device is provided. The device comprises: a connector configured to electrically couple to an external device and comprising a plurality of terminals including a supply terminal; a monitoring circuit coupled to the supply terminal and configured to apply an electrical signal to the supply terminal and measure at least one of a voltage level and a current level on the supply terminal; a controller communicatively coupled to the monitoring circuit and configured to: determine whether an impedance between the supply terminal and at least one other terminal in the plurality of terminals is above a threshold using the at least one of the voltage level and the current level on the supply terminal; and output at least one message responsive to the impedance being below the threshold.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a connector configured to electrically couple to an external device and comprising a plurality of terminals including a supply terminal;

a monitoring circuit coupled to the supply terminal and configured to apply an electrical signal to the supply terminal and measure at least one of a voltage level and a current level on the supply terminal;

a controller communicatively coupled to the monitoring circuit and configured to;

apply, via the monitoring circuit, the electrical signal to the supply terminal;

identify, via the monitoring circuit, the at least one of the voltage level and the current level on the supply terminal while the electrical signal is applied to the supply terminal;

determine whether an impedance between the supply terminal and at least one other terminal in the plurality of terminals is above a threshold using the at least one of the voltage level and the current level on the supply terminal; and

output at least one first message responsive to the impedance being below the threshold.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery; and

a charger circuit coupled between the supply terminal and the battery and configured to selectively charge the battery using at least some power from the supply terminal.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to control the charging circuit to charge the battery using the at least some power from the supply terminal responsive to the impedance being above the threshold.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the impedance is above the threshold at least in part by determining whether the at least one of the voltage level and the current level on the supply terminal is within a range of acceptable values.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to apply the electrical signal to the supply terminal and identify the at least one of the voltage level and the current level on the supply terminal while the external device is not providing power to the supply terminal.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to, before applying the electrical signal to the supply terminal, transmit at least one control signal to the external device to stop providing power to the supply terminal responsive to detecting the connection to the external device.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to apply the electrical signal to the supply terminal and identify the at least one of the voltage level and the current level on the supply terminal during a debounce period where the external device is not providing power to the supply terminal after the connector is electrically coupled to the external device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to apply the electrical signal to the supply terminal and measure the at least one of the voltage level and the current level on the supply terminal at least in part by applying a voltage to the supply terminal and measuring the current level on the supply terminal.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the monitoring circuit comprises a voltage source coupled to the supply terminal and a current detector coupled to the supply terminal and the voltage source.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to apply the electrical signal to the supply terminal and measure the at least one of the voltage level and the current level on the supply terminal at least in part by applying a current to the supply terminal and measuring the voltage level on the supply terminal.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the monitoring circuit comprises a current source coupled to the supply terminal and a voltage detector coupled to the supply terminal and the voltage source.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a communication terminal coupled to the communication circuit, the communication circuit is configured to communicate with the external device via the communication terminal, and the controller is configured to detect, via the communication circuit, a connection to the external device and apply the electrical signal to the supply terminal responsive to detecting the connection to the external device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the communication circuit comprises a resistance coupled between the communication terminal and a reference potential and wherein the controller is configured to detect the connection to the external device based on a voltage level on the communication terminal.

14. A device comprising:

a connector configured to electrically couple to an external device and comprising a plurality of terminals including a supply terminal;

a communication circuit configured to communicate with the external device;

a monitoring circuit coupled to the supply terminal and configured to measure a current level on the supply terminal;

a controller communicatively coupled to the communication circuit and the monitoring circuit, the controller being configured to;

identify, via the monitoring circuit, the current level on the supply terminal;

obtain, via the communication circuit, a current level output by the external device;

determine whether an impedance between the supply terminal and at least one other terminal in the plurality of terminals is above a threshold using the current level on the supply terminal and the current level output by the external device; and

output at least one message responsive to the impedance being below the threshold.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

a battery; and

a charger circuit coupled between the supply terminal and the battery and configured to selectively charge the battery using at least some power from the supply terminal.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to control the charging circuit to charge the battery using the at least some power from the supply terminal responsive to the impedance being above the threshold.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the impedance is above the threshold at least in part by determining whether a difference between the current level on the supply terminal and the current level output by the external device is below a threshold value.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured identify the current level on the supply terminal and obtain a current level output by the external device while the external device is providing power to the supply terminal.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to output the at least one message at least in part by transmitting a message to the external device to stop providing power to the supply terminal.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the connector comprises a communication terminal coupled to the communication circuit, the communication circuit is configured to communicate with the external device via the communication terminal, and the controller is configured to detect, via the communication circuit, a connection to the external device and identify the current level on the supply terminal responsive to detecting the connection to the external device.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the communication circuit comprises a resistance coupled between the communication terminal and a reference potential and wherein the controller is configured to detect the connection to the external device based on a voltage level on the communication terminal.

22. A device comprising:

a connector configured to electrically couple to an external device and comprising a plurality of terminals including a supply terminal and a communication terminal;

a communication circuit coupled to the communication terminal and configured to communicate with the external device via the communication terminal;

a power source configured to provide output power;

a power control circuit coupled between the power source and the supply terminal and configured to selectively couple the power source to the supply terminal and measure a current level on the supply terminal;

a controller coupled to the communication circuit and the power control circuit, the controller being configured to;

detect, via the communication circuit, a connection to the external device;

couple, via the power control circuit, the power source to the supply terminal responsive to detecting the connection to the external device;

receive, via the communication circuit, a current level request from the external device; and

responsive to receiving the current level request,

identify, via the power control circuit, the current level on the supply terminal; and

transmit, via the communication circuit, the current level on the supply terminal to the external device.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the communication circuit comprises at least one of a current source and an impedance coupled to the communication terminal and wherein the controller is configured to detect the connection to the external device based on a voltage level on the communication terminal.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to receive a stop request to stop providing power to the supply terminal from the external device and, responsive to receipt of the stop request, control the power control circuit to decouple the power source from the supply terminal.

25. A system comprising:

a first device including a first connector configured to electrically couple to a second device and comprising a first supply terminal, a first communication circuit configured to communicate with the second device, a circuit coupled to the first supply terminal and configured to measure a current level on the first supply terminal, and a first controller coupled to the circuit and the first communication circuit, the first controller being configured to receive, via the first communication circuit, a current level request from the second device, and responsive to receiving the current level request, identify, via the circuit, the current level on the first supply terminal and transmit, via the communication circuit, the current level on the first supply terminal to the second device; and

the second device including a second connector configured to electrically couple to the first device and comprising a second supply terminal, a second communication circuit configured to communicate with the first device, a monitoring circuit coupled to the second supply terminal and configured to measure a current level on the second supply terminal, a second controller communicatively coupled to the second communication circuit and the monitoring circuit, the second controller being configured to identify, via the monitoring circuit, the current level on the second supply terminal, obtain, via the second communication circuit, the current level on the first supply terminal from the first device, determine whether an impedance between the supply terminal and at least one other terminal in the plurality of terminals is above a threshold using the current level on the first supply terminal and the current level on the second supply terminal, and output at least one message responsive to the impedance being below the threshold.