Power management apparatus and method

Abstract

A power management device and method for consumer electronic products. The power management device includes a memory, a configuration channel interface circuit, and a control circuit. When a power supply device is electrically connected to a connector of a consumer electronic product, the control circuit performs a power delivery protocol compliant with USB specification with the power supply device via the configuration channel interface circuit and configuration channel pins of the connector to determine a power supply mode of the power supply device to the consumer electronic product. After the power delivery protocol is successfully performed, the control circuit performs a vendor-defined message protocol with the power supply device via the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pins based on at least one protocol configuration file stored in the memory to determine whether to change the power supply mode.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a consumer electronic product, and particularly relates to a power management device and method of a consumer electronic product. BACKGROUND

[0002] Generally, a user uses a charger or an adapter to supply power to a consumer electronic product, such as a table lamp, a speaker, or other consumer electronic products. The connection interface between the charger and the consumer electronic product is generally a connector complying with a standard specification. For example, the connection interface between the charger and the consumer electronic product can be a USB type-A connector or a USB type-C connector complying with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification. A manufacturer can develop a special power source protocol to allow the charger (or the adapter) to provide more power to the consumer electronic product than the standard specification. Based on the development of the special power source protocol, the power source mode between the charger (or the adapter) and the consumer electronic product can be adjusted from a standard specification mode to a high-power mode to increase the output power of the charger (or the adapter). When the power source mode between the charger (or the adapter) and the consumer electronic product is adjusted to the high-power mode, more power than the standard specification can allow the charger (or the adapter) to provide greater power requirements to the consumer electronic product.

[0003] However, different manufacturers often develop different power source protocols. For example, assume that "charger A" can develop "power source protocol A" (but cannot develop "power source protocol B"), and "charger B" can develop "power source protocol B" (but cannot develop "power source protocol A"). When "charger A" is electrically connected to a consumer electronic product that can develop "power source protocol A", based on the development of "power source protocol A", charger A and the consumer electronic product can operate in a high-power mode. However, when "charger B" is electrically connected to a consumer electronic product that can develop "power source protocol A", because the consumer electronic product cannot develop "power source protocol B", charger B and the consumer electronic product can only operate in a standard specification mode.

[0004] It should be noted that the contents of the "BACKGROUND" section are used to help understand the present application. Some (or all) of the contents disclosed in the "BACKGROUND" section can not be known art to those skilled in the art. The contents disclosed in the "BACKGROUND" section do not represent the contents known to those skilled in the art before the present application. SUMMARY

[0005] The present invention provides a power management device and method that can perform a protocol corresponding to a power supply device to determine a power mode in which the power supply device supplies power to a consumer electronic product.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the power management device described above is adapted to be configured in a consumer electronic product. The power management device includes a memory, a configuration channel interface circuit, and a control circuit. The memory is adapted to store at least one protocol profile. The configuration channel interface circuit is adapted to be coupled to configuration channel pins of a connector of the consumer electronic product. The control circuit is coupled to the configuration channel interface circuit and the memory. When a power supply device is electrically connected to the connector of the consumer electronic product, the control circuit performs a power delivery protocol compliant with the USB specification to the power supply device via the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pins to determine a power mode in which the power supply device supplies power to the consumer electronic product. After the power delivery protocol is successfully performed, the control circuit performs a vendor-defined message protocol to the power supply device via the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pins based on the protocol profile stored in the memory to determine whether to change the power mode between the power supply device and the consumer electronic product.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the power management method described above is adapted to a consumer electronic product. The power management method includes: storing, by a memory of a power management device of the consumer electronic product, at least one protocol profile; when a power supply device is electrically connected to a connector of the consumer electronic product, performing, by the power management device, a power delivery protocol compliant with the USB specification to the power supply device via configuration channel pins of the connector to determine a power mode in which the power supply device supplies power to the consumer electronic product; and after the power delivery protocol is successfully performed, performing, by the power management device, a vendor-defined message protocol to the power supply device via the configuration channel pins based on the protocol profile stored in the memory to determine whether to change the power mode between the power supply device and the consumer electronic product.

[0008] Based on the above, in an embodiment of the present application, the power management device can perform a first power protocol to the power supply device in a bidirectional manner through a differential signal pin pair of the connector (e.g., the D+ pin and the D- pin of a USB connector). When the performance of the first power protocol is successful, the power supply mode of the power supply device to the consumer electronic product can be changed to a high power mode. In another embodiment of the present application, after the power management device successfully performs a power delivery (PD) protocol in compliance with the USB specification, the power management device can further perform a vendor-defined message (VDM) protocol to the power supply device via a configuration channel pin (e.g., the CC pin of a USB connector) of the connector to determine whether to change the power supply mode between the power supply device and the consumer electronic product to a high power mode. In yet another embodiment of the present application, protocol configuration files corresponding to different power protocols can be stored in a memory of the consumer electronic product in advance. When the power supply device is electrically connected to the connector of the consumer electronic product, the power management device can perform the PD protocol and the VDM protocol corresponding to the power supply device to the power supply device according to different protocol configuration files of the memory to determine whether to further change the power supply mode between the power supply device and the consumer electronic product to a high power mode. Thus, the power management device can perform the protocol corresponding to the power supply device to determine the power supply mode of the power supply device to the consumer electronic product. Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present application, the memory can further store traceability data to be read by an external electronic device (not shown) via the configuration channel pin and a configuration channel interface circuit of the connector. According to design requirements and / or application requirements, the traceability data includes product model, product serial number, manufacturing date information, manufacturer information, and / or other information / data related to the consumer electronic product.

[0009] In order to make the above features and advantages of the present application more apparent, specific embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is a circuit block schematic diagram of a consumer electronic product according to an embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 is a circuit block schematic diagram of a consumer electronic product according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0012] Figure 3 is a flowchart of a power management method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0013] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a power management method according to another embodiment of the present application.

[0014]

Symbol Explanation

[0015] 10: USB charger

[0016] 11, 110: Universal Serial Bus (USB) type-C connector

[0017] 20: Power supply device

[0018] 21, 210: Connector

[0019] 100, 200: Consumer electronics product

[0020] 120, 220: Power management device

[0021] 130, 230: Power switch

[0022] 140, 240: Load

[0023] 221: Data channel interface circuit

[0024] 222: Configuration channel interface circuit

[0025] 223: Control circuit

[0026] 224: Memory

[0027] CC, D+, D-, ILIM_COARSE, ILIM_FINE, Vbus, VMAX, VMIN: Pins

[0028] Pbus: Primary power bus

[0029] R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8: Resistors

[0030] S310-S350, S410-S473: Steps DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The term "coupled" (or connected) used in the detailed description of the application, both in the claims and / or in the accompanying drawings, means any direct or indirect coupling between elements, unless the context implies otherwise. By way of example, when an element A is said "coupled" (or connected) to element B, it means that A can be directly connected to B or that A can be indirectly connected to B through one or more elements. The terms "first", "second", and the like used in the detailed description of the application, both in the claims and / or in the accompanying drawings, refer to names of elements rather than their order or the number of the elements, and are used to distinguish elements from one another. In addition, wherever possible, like reference numerals are used in the drawings and the detailed description of the application to refer to like elements / components / steps. The elements / components / steps with the same reference numerals or the same terms in different embodiments can be referred to each other for relevant description.

[0032] Figure 1 is a circuit block diagram of a consumer electronic product 100 according to an embodiment. Figure 1 The Universal Serial Bus (USB) type-C connector 110 of the consumer electronic product 100 is connected to the USB type-C connector 11 of the USB charger 10 via a cable. The USB charger 10 can be a USB adapter. When the USB charger 10 is electrically connected to the consumer electronic product 100, the USB charger 10 can supply power to the consumer electronic product 100.

[0033] The consumer electronic product 100 includes a power management device 120, a power switch 130, and a load 140. In the case that the consumer electronic product 100 has a table lamp function, the load 140 can include a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a human-machine interface circuit, and / or other circuits / components. In the case that the consumer electronic product 100 has a speaker function, the load 140 can include a speaker, an amplification circuit, a wireless communication circuit, and / or other circuits / components. The operating power required by the load 140 is provided by a main power bus Pbus.

[0034] The power management device 120 has a Power Delivery (PD) function in compliance with the USB specification. The power management device 120 can detect the electrical state of the Configuration Channel (CC) pin of the USB type-C connector 110 to determine whether the USB type-C connector 110 is connected to any external electronic device. When an external electronic device (e.g., the USB charger 10) is electrically connected to the USB type-C connector 110, the power management device 120 can exchange configuration information, such as a power profile, with the external electronic device through the CC pin of the USB type-C connector 110. The parameters of the power profile are determined by the resistors R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8. The resistors R1 and R2 can provide a first voltage division level to the VMAX pin of the power management device 120 to determine the maximum voltage of the power profile. The resistors R3 and R4 can provide a second voltage division level to the VMIN pin of the power management device 120 to determine the minimum voltage of the power profile. The resistors R5 and R6 can provide a third voltage division level to the ILIM_FINE pin of the power management device 120 to determine the fine current level of the power profile. The resistors R7 and R8 can provide a fourth voltage division level to the ILIM_COARSE pin of the power management device 120 to determine the coarse current level of the power profile.

[0035] When the USB charger 10 is electrically connected to the USB type-C connector 110, the power management device 120 can perform a PD protocol with the USB charger 10 through the CC pin of the USB type-C connector 110. After the power management device 120 successfully performs the PD protocol with the USB charger 10, the power management device 120 can turn on the power switch 130 of the consumer electronic product 100 to transmit the power provided by the USB charger 10 to the main power bus Pbus of the consumer electronic product 100 through the Vbus pin of the USB type-C connector 110 and the power switch 130. At this time, the USB charger 10 can supply power to the load 140 of the consumer electronic product 100.

[0036] For the design / manufacturing phase, resistors R1-R8 provide flexibility for tuning the power profile. However, resistors R1-R8 are fixed on the circuit board of consumer electronic product 100. After the manufacturing of consumer electronic product 100 is completed, the tuning of the power profile of consumer electronic product 100 is no longer flexible. Furthermore, resistors R1-R8 will occupy limited area on the circuit board and increase the manufacturing cost of consumer electronic product 100. In addition, power management device 120 needs to be configured with VMAX pin, VMIN pin, ILIM_FINE pin and ILIM_COARSE pin in order to connect resistors R1-R8, which will increase the packaging cost of power management device 120.

[0037] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a consumer electronic product 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, consumer electronic product 200 includes a connector 210, a power management device 220, a power switch 230 and a load 240. Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, connector 210 of consumer electronic product 200 can include a USB type-C connector. Depending on design requirements, in another embodiment, connector 210 can include other types of USB connectors. In other embodiments, connector 210 can include other electrical connectors. Figure 2 Connector 210 of consumer electronic product 200 can be connected to a connector 21 of a power supply device 20 via a cable. When power supply device 20 is electrically connected to consumer electronic product 200, power supply device 20 can supply power to consumer electronic product 200. Depending on application requirements, power supply device 20 can include a USB charger, a USB adapter or other power supply devices. In the case that power supply device 20 is a USB charger or a USB adapter, connector 21 can include a USB type-A connector, a USB type-C connector and / or other USB connectors.

[0038] Consumer electronic product 200 includes power management device 220, power switch 230 and load 240. In the case that consumer electronic product 200 has a table lamp function, load 240 can include LEDs, human-machine interface circuit and / or other circuits / components. In the case that consumer electronic product 200 has a speaker function, load 240 can include a speaker, an amplification circuit, a wireless communication circuit and / or other circuits / components. The operating power required by load 240 is provided by a main power bus Pbus of consumer electronic product 200.

[0039] The power management device 220 includes a data lane interface circuit 221, a configuration lane interface circuit 222, a control circuit 223, and a memory 224. The memory 224 can include a One-Time Programming (OTP) memory, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), and / or other non-volatile memory, depending on design requirements. The memory 224 can store one or more protocol profiles and / or power profiles. The power profile can include voltage parameters, current parameters, and / or other power parameters.

[0040] In addition, the memory 224 can also store traceability data for an external electronic device (not shown) to read via the CC pin of the connector 210 and the configuration lane interface circuit 222, depending on design requirements. The traceability data can include a product model, a product serial number, manufacturing date information, manufacturer information, and / or other information / data related to the consumer electronic product 200, depending on design requirements and / or application requirements.

[0041] The data lane interface circuit 221 is adapted to be coupled to a pair of differential signal pins of the connector 210 of the consumer electronic product 200. In the case that the connector 210 includes a USB connector, the pair of differential signal pins can include the D+ and D- pins of the USB connector, and the data lane interface circuit 221 can include a physical layer circuit of a differential data lane in compliance with the USB specification. The control circuit 223 is coupled to the data lane interface circuit 221. The control circuit 223 can detect the D+ and D- pins of the connector 210 in compliance with the USB specification via the data lane interface circuit 221.

[0042] Figure 3 is a flow diagram of a power management method according to an embodiment of the present application. In Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the connector 21 of the power supply device 20 is assumed to be a USB type-A connector, i.e., the connector 21 does not have a CC pin. Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3In step S310, the control circuit 223 can detect the signals (the electrical states of the differential signal pin pair) of the D+ pin and the D- pin of the connector 210 through the data channel interface circuit 221 to determine whether an external electronic device is electrically connected to the connector 210. The detection operation of step S310 can comply with the USB specification, which is known, and thus is not described herein.

[0043] When an external electronic device (e.g., the power supply device 20) is electrically connected to the connector 210 of the consumer electronic product 200, i.e., the determination result of step S320 is "Yes", the control circuit 223 can perform step S330 to determine the power supply mode of the power supply device 20 to the consumer electronic product 200. In step S330, the control circuit 223 can detect the electrical states of the differential signal pin pair (the D+ pin and the D- pin) of the connector 210 through the data channel interface circuit 221. The detection operation of step S330 includes that the external electronic device (e.g., the power supply device 20) applies electrical signals complying with the USB specification to the differential signal pin pair (the D+ pin and the D- pin) of the connector 210 via the connector 210, or the external electronic device (e.g., the power supply device 20) sets the electrical states of the differential signal pin pair of the connector 210 to be in a short-circuit state according to the USB specification. The detection operation of step S330 can comply with the USB specification, which is known, and thus is not described herein.

[0044] According to the electrical states of the differential signal pin pair of the connector 210, the control circuit 223 can determine to turn on the power switch 230 of the consumer electronic product 200 (step S340) to transmit the power provided by the power supply device 20 to the main power bus Pbus of the consumer electronic product 200 via the connector 210 and the power switch 230. At this time, the power supply device 20 can supply power to the load 240 of the consumer electronic product 200 according to the standard specification of the USB. The power supply device 20 unidirectionally sets the electrical states of the differential signal pin pair of the connector 210, and thus the operation of step S330 can be regarded as a power source protocol performed in a unidirectional manner.

[0045] When the power switch 230 is turned on, the control circuit 223 can perform a first power protocol with the power supply device 20 in a bidirectional manner via the data channel interface circuit 221 and the differential signal pin pair (D+ pin and D- pin) of the connector 210 (step S350) to determine the power mode in which the power supply device 20 supplies power to the consumer electronic product 200. For example, the first power protocol can include a QC protocol of Q company, an SCP protocol of H company, an FCP protocol of H company, and / or other power protocols. The QC protocol, the SCP protocol, and the FCP protocol are known and thus are not described herein.

[0046] The first power protocol of step S350 can determine whether to cause the power supply device 20 to further adjust the power mode from a standard power mode specified by the USB 2.0 specification to a high power mode in which the power exceeds the power specified by the USB 2.0 specification. When the power mode between the power supply device 20 and the consumer electronic product 200 is adjusted to the high power mode, the power greater than the standard specification can cause the power supply device 20 to provide a greater power demand to the consumer electronic product 200.

[0047] The first power protocol of step S350 can include the following operation. The control circuit 223 can receive a protocol signal transmitted by the power supply device 20 via the data channel interface circuit 221 and the differential signal pin pair (D+ pin and D- pin) of the connector 210. Different manufacturers often develop different power protocols, such that the protocol signal transmitted by the power supply device 20 of different manufacturers can have different signaling patterns. The memory 224 can store one or more protocol profiles. The control circuit 223 can identify the protocol signal transmitted by the power supply device 20 based on the protocol profile stored in the memory 224 of the consumer electronic product 200. Thus, the power management device 220 can successfully identify the protocol signal transmitted by the power supply device 20 regardless of the power protocol performed by the power supply device 20. In the future, if a new power supply device 20 performs a new power protocol, a user (external electronic device, not shown) can also write (store) the protocol profile corresponding to the new power protocol into the memory 224 via the CC pin and the configuration channel interface circuit 222 of the connector 210.

[0048] In the first power protocol described in step S350, when the control circuit 223 successfully identifies the protocol signal sent by the power device 20, the control circuit 223 can send a reply signal corresponding to the protocol signal via the data channel interface circuit 221 to the differential signal pin pair (D+ pin and D- pin) of the connector 210. After the power device 20 receives the reply signal corresponding to the protocol signal, the power device 20 can adjust the power mode to a high power mode, where the power of the high power mode exceeds the power specified by the USB 2.0 specification. When the control circuit 223 fails to identify the protocol signal sent by the power device 20, or when the power device 20 does not send the protocol signal, the power mode between the power device 20 and the consumer electronic product 200 can be maintained as the standard specification power mode complying with the USB 2.0 specification.

[0049] Please refer to Figure 2 The configuration channel interface circuit 222 is adapted to be coupled to the configuration channel (CC) pin of the connector 210 of the consumer electronic product 200. In the case that the connector 210 comprises a USB connector, the configuration channel interface circuit 222 can comprise a physical layer circuit of the CC pin complying with the USB specification. The control circuit 223 is coupled to the configuration channel interface circuit 222. Through the configuration channel interface circuit 222, the control circuit 223 can detect the CC pin of the connector 210 in compliance with the USB specification. The control circuit 223 has a power delivery (PD) function complying with the USB specification. The control circuit 223 can detect the electrical state of the CC pin of the connector 210 through the configuration channel interface circuit 222 to determine whether the connector 210 is connected to any external electronic device.

[0050] When an external electronic device (e.g. the power device 20) is electrically connected to the connector 210, the control circuit 223 can exchange configuration information, such as a power profile, with the external electronic device through the CC pin of the connector 210. The parameters of the power profile are determined by the configuration file stored in the memory 224. Therefore, the memory 224 provides flexibility in adjusting the power profile. Compared to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 Figure 2 ​The consumer electronic product 200 does not need to be configured with the resistors R1-R8, and the power management device 220 does not need to be configured with the VMAX pin, the VMIN pin, the ILIM_FINE pin, and the ILIM_COARSE pin. Because the user (an external electronic device, not shown) can write (store) new parameters into the memory 224 via the CC pin of the connector 210 and the configuration channel interface circuit 222 at any time, the adjustment of the power configuration file of the consumer electronic product 200 is still flexible after the manufacturing of the consumer electronic product 200 is completed.

[0051] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a power management method according to another embodiment of the present application. In Figure 4 In the embodiment shown, the connector 21 of the power supply device 20 can be a USB type-A connector (without the CC pin) or a USB type-C connector (with the CC pin). Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 4 In step S410, the memory 224 can store one or more protocol profiles. In step S420, the control circuit 223 can detect the signals (the electrical states of the differential signal pin pair) of the D+ pin and the D- pin of the connector 210 via the data channel interface circuit 221, and / or detect the signal (the electrical state of the CC pin) of the CC pin of the connector 210 via the configuration channel interface circuit 222, to know whether an external electronic device is electrically connected to the connector 210. The detection operation details of step S420 can comply with the USB specification, which is known and thus not described here.

[0052] When the external electronic device (for example, the power supply device 20) is electrically connected to the connector 210 of the consumer electronic product 200, that is, the result of the determination in step S430 is “yes”, the control circuit 223 can perform step S440 to determine the power supply mode of the power supply device 20 to supply power to the consumer electronic product 200. In step S440, the control circuit 223 can perform a power delivery (PD) protocol complying with the USB specification to the power supply device 20 via the configuration channel interface circuit 222 and the CC pin of the connector 210. The PD protocol is known and thus not described here. The control circuit 223 can perform the PD protocol to the power supply device 20 based on the protocol profile stored in the memory 224 of the consumer electronic product 200 to determine the power supply mode of the power supply device 20 to supply power to the consumer electronic product 200.

[0053] When the result of the PD protocol performed by the control circuit 223 on the power supply device 20 is successful, i.e., the result of the determination in step S450 is YES, the control circuit 223 can perform step S461. In step S461, the control circuit 223 can determine to turn on the power switch 230 of the consumer electronic product 200 to transmit the power supplied by the power supply device 20 to the main power bus Pbus of the consumer electronic product 200 via the connector 210 and the power switch 230. At this time, the power supply device 20 can supply power to the load 240 of the consumer electronic product 200 in compliance with the standard specification of USB.

[0054] When the PD protocol is successful (after the power switch 230 is turned on), the control circuit 223 can perform step S462. In step S462, the control circuit 223 can perform a Vendor-Defined Messaging (VDM) protocol with the power supply device 20 via the CC pin of the connector 210 and the configuration channel interface circuit 222. The control circuit 223 can perform the VDM protocol with the power supply device 20 based on the protocol profile stored in the memory 224 of the consumer electronic product 200 to determine whether to further change the power mode between the power supply device 20 and the consumer electronic product 200.

[0055] The VDM protocol in step S462 can include the following operations. Based on the protocol profile stored in the memory 224, the control circuit 223 can send a query signal corresponding to the power supply device 20 to the power supply device via the CC pin of the connector 210 and the configuration channel interface circuit 222 to query whether the power supply device 20 supports the VDM protocol. When the power supply device 20 replies a reply signal corresponding to the query signal to the control circuit 223, the power mode between the power supply device 20 and the consumer electronic product 200 can be adjusted to a high-power mode, where the power of the high-power mode exceeds the power specified by the PD protocol. When the power mode between the power supply device 20 and the consumer electronic product 200 is adjusted to the high-power mode, the power greater than the standard specification can cause the power supply device 20 to provide greater power demand to the consumer electronic product 200.

[0056] In the operation in step S462, when the memory 224 does not have the protocol profile corresponding to the power supply device 20, the power mode between the power supply device 20 and the consumer electronic product 200 can be maintained as the standard specification power mode specified by the PD protocol. That is, the power supply device 20 can maintain the power mode as the power mode determined in step S440.

[0057] In the case that the power supply device 20 is electrically connected to the connector 210 of the consumer electronic product 200, when the PD protocol fails or when the CC pin of the connector 210 is not electrically connected to the power supply device 20, i.e., the result of the step S450 is "No", the control circuit 223 can perform steps S471, S472 and S473. Figure 4 The steps S471, S472 and S473 can be inferred by referring to the related descriptions of the steps S330, S340 and S350. Figure 3 The steps S471, S472 and S473 can be inferred by referring to the related descriptions of the steps S330, S340 and S350.

[0058] In the step S473, based on the protocol configuration file stored in the memory 224, the control circuit 223 can perform the first power protocol with the power supply device 20 via the data channel interface circuit 221 and the differential signal pin pair (D+ pin and D- pin) of the connector 210 in a bidirectional manner to determine whether to further change the power mode between the power supply device 20 and the consumer electronic product 200. The first power protocol of the step S473 can determine whether to make the power supply device 20 further adjust the power mode from the standard power mode specified by the USB 2.0 specification to a high power mode, wherein the power of the high power mode exceeds the power specified by the USB 2.0 specification. When the power mode between the power supply device 20 and the consumer electronic product 200 is adjusted to the high power mode, the power greater than the standard specification can make the power supply device 20 provide a greater power demand for the consumer electronic product 200.

[0059] The first power protocol of the step S473 can include the following operations. The control circuit 223 can receive the protocol signal sent by the power supply device 20 via the data channel interface circuit 221 and the differential signal pin pair (D+ pin and D- pin) of the connector 210. The control circuit 223 can identify the protocol signal sent by the power supply device 20 based on the protocol configuration file stored in the memory 224. Therefore, regardless of the power protocol performed by the power supply device 20, the power management device 220 can successfully identify the protocol signal sent by the power supply device 20. When the control circuit 223 successfully identifies the protocol signal sent by the power supply device 20, the control circuit 223 can send the reply signal corresponding to the protocol signal to the power supply device 20 via the data channel interface circuit 221 and the differential signal pin pair (D+ pin and D- pin) of the connector 210, so as to make the power supply device 20 adjust the power mode to the high power mode. When the control circuit 223 fails to identify the protocol signal sent by the power supply device 20, or when the power supply device 20 does not send the protocol signal, the power mode between the power supply device 20 and the consumer electronic product 200 is maintained as the standard specification power mode conforming to the USB 2.0 specification.

[0060] Depending on the design requirements, the implementation of the blocks of the power management device 220 and / or the control circuit 223 can be hardware, firmware, software (i.e., programs), or a combination of the three.

[0061] In hardware form, the blocks of the power management device 220 and / or the control circuit 223 can be implemented as logic circuitry within an integrated circuit. The functions of the power management device 220 and / or the control circuit 223 can be implemented in hardware using a hardware description language (e.g., Verilog HDL or VHDL) or other appropriate programming language. For example, the functions of the power management device 220 and / or the control circuit 223 can be implemented in various logic blocks, modules, and circuits within one or more controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and / or other processing units.

[0062] The functions of the power management device 220 and / or the control circuit 223 can be implemented in software and / or firmware as programming codes. For example, the power management device 220 and / or the control circuit 223 can be implemented using general programming languages such as C, C++, or a combination language, or other suitable programming languages. The programming codes can be recorded / stored in a recording medium such as a Read Only Memory (ROM), a storage device, and / or a Random Access Memory (RAM). A computer, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a controller, a microcontroller, or a microprocessor can read and execute the programming codes from the recording medium to achieve the functions. As the recording medium, a "non-transitory computer readable medium" such as a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. Furthermore, the program can be provided to the computer (or CPU) via any transmission medium (a communication network, a broadcast wave, or the like). The communication network is, for example, the Internet, a wired communication, a wireless communication, or another communication medium.

[0063] In summary, the power management device 220 of the above embodiments can perform the first power protocol with the power supply device 20 in a bidirectional manner through a differential signal pin pair (e.g. the D+ pin and the D- pin of a USB connector) of the connector 210. When the performance of the first power protocol is successful, the power mode of the power supply device 20 to the consumer electronic product 200 can be changed to the high power mode. In another embodiment of the present application, after the power management device 220 successfully performs the PD protocol in compliance with the USB specification, the power management device 220 can further perform the VDM protocol with the power supply device 20 via the CC pin of the connector 210 to determine whether to further change the power mode between the power supply device 20 and the consumer electronic product 200 to the high power mode. In yet another embodiment of the present application, the protocol configuration files corresponding to different power protocols can be previously stored in the memory 224 of the consumer electronic product 200. When the power supply device 20 is electrically connected to the connector 210 of the consumer electronic product 200, the power management device 220 can perform the PD protocol and the VDM protocol corresponding to the power supply device 20 according to the different protocol configuration files of the memory 224 to determine whether to further change the power mode between the power supply device 20 and the consumer electronic product 200 to the high power mode. Therefore, the power management device 220 can perform the protocol corresponding to the power supply device 20 to determine the power mode of the power supply device 20 to the consumer electronic product. Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present application, the memory can further store traceability data to be read by an external electronic device (not shown) via the configuration channel pin and the configuration channel interface circuit of the connector. According to the design requirement and / or the application requirement, the traceability data includes the product model, the product serial number, the manufacturing date information, the manufacturer information and / or other information / data related to the consumer electronic product.

[0064] Although the present application has been disclosed with embodiments as above, it is not intended to limit the present application, and those skilled in the art can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application, and the protection scope of the present application shall be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A power management device adapted to be configured in a consumer electronic product, the power management device comprising: a memory adapted to store at least one protocol profile; a configuration channel interface circuit adapted to be coupled to configuration channel pins of a connector of the consumer electronic product; and a control circuit coupled to the configuration channel interface circuit and the memory, wherein when a power supply device is electrically connected to the connector of the consumer electronic product, the control circuit performs a USB-compliant power delivery protocol with the power supply device via the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pins to determine a power mode in which the power supply device supplies power to the consumer electronic product, and when the power delivery protocol is successfully performed, the control circuit performs a vendor-defined message protocol with the power supply device via the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pins based on the at least one protocol profile stored in the memory to determine whether to change the power mode between the power supply device and the consumer electronic product, wherein the power management device further comprises: a data channel interface circuit adapted to be coupled to a pair of differential signal pins of the connector, wherein the control circuit is further coupled to the data channel interface circuit, when the power supply device is electrically connected to the connector of the consumer electronic product, the control circuit detects electrical states of the pair of differential signal pins via the data channel interface circuit when the power delivery protocol is unsuccessfully performed or when the configuration channel pins are not electrically connected to the power supply device, and turns on a power switch of the consumer electronic product to transmit power provided by the power supply device to a main power bus of the consumer electronic product via the connector and the power switch according to the electrical states, and when the power switch is turned on, the control circuit performs a first power protocol with the power supply device via the data channel interface circuit and the pair of differential signal pins in a bidirectional manner to determine whether to change the power mode in which the power supply device supplies power to the consumer electronic product.

2. The power management device of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a USB connector.

3. The power management device of claim 1, wherein the power supply device comprises a USB charger or a USB adapter.

4. The power management device of claim 1, wherein the vendor-defined message protocol comprises: sending, by the control circuit via the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pins, a query signal corresponding to the power supply device to the power supply device based on the at least one protocol profile stored in the memory; and when the power supply device replies an answer signal corresponding to the query signal to the control circuit, the power mode between the power supply device and the consumer electronic product is adjusted to a high power mode, wherein power of the high power mode exceeds power specified by the power delivery protocol.

5. The power management device of claim 1, wherein ​ ​ When the memory does not have the at least one protocol configuration file corresponding to the power device, the power mode between the power device and the consumer electronic product is maintained as a standard specification power mode as specified by the power delivery protocol.

6. The power management device of claim 1, wherein the first power protocol comprises: receiving, by the control circuit, via the data lane interface circuit and the differential signal pin pair, a protocol signal transmitted by the power device; identifying, by the control circuit, the protocol signal based on the at least one protocol configuration file stored in the memory; when the control circuit successfully identifies the protocol signal transmitted by the power device, transmitting, by the control circuit, via the data lane interface circuit and the differential signal pin pair, a reply signal corresponding to the protocol signal to the power device, so that the power device adjusts the power mode to a high power mode, wherein the high power mode has a power exceeding a power specified by the USB 2.0 specification; and when the control circuit fails to identify the protocol signal transmitted by the power device, or when the power device does not transmit the protocol signal, the power mode between the power device and the consumer electronic product is maintained as a standard specification power mode as specified by the USB 2.0 specification, wherein the memory further stores traceability data for being read by an electronic device via the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pin.

7. The power management device of claim 1, wherein the differential signal pin pair comprises D+ and D- pins of a USB connector.

8. The power management device of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores traceability data for being read by an electronic device via the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pin.

9. The power management device of claim 8, wherein the traceability data comprises at least one of product serial number, manufacturing date information, and manufacturer information.

10. A power management method for a consumer electronic product, the power management method comprising: storing, by a memory of a power management device of the consumer electronic product, at least one protocol configuration file; when a power device is electrically connected to a connector of the consumer electronic product, performing, by the power management device, a power delivery protocol as specified by a USB specification via a configuration channel pin of the connector to the power device, to determine a power mode in which the power device supplies power to the consumer electronic product; and when the performance of the power delivery protocol is successful, performing, by the power management device, a vendor-defined message protocol via the configuration channel pin to the power device based on the at least one protocol configuration file stored in the memory, to determine whether to change the power mode between the power device and the consumer electronic product, wherein the power management method further comprises: In the case that the power supply device is electrically connected to the connector of the consumer electronic product, when the power delivery protocol fails or when the configuration channel pin is not electrically connected to the power supply device, the data channel interface circuit of the power management device detects the electrical state of the differential signal pin pair of the connector, and turns on the power switch of the consumer electronic product to transmit the power provided by the power supply device to the main power bus of the consumer electronic product via the connector and the power switch according to the electrical state, and When the power switch is turned on, the power management device performs a first power supply protocol with the power supply device via the differential signal pin pair in a bidirectional manner to determine whether to change the power supply mode of the power supply device for supplying power to the consumer electronic product, Wherein, the data channel interface circuit comprises a physical layer circuit of a differential data channel complying with the USB specification.

11. The power management method of claim 10, wherein the vendor-defined message protocol comprises: sending, by the power management device via the configuration channel pin, an inquiry signal corresponding to the power supply device to the power supply device based on the at least one protocol configuration file stored in the memory; and when the power supply device returns a reply signal corresponding to the inquiry signal to the power management device, the power supply mode between the power supply device and the consumer electronic product is adjusted to a high-power mode, wherein the power of the high-power mode exceeds the power specified by the power delivery protocol.

12. The power management method of claim 10, further comprising: when the memory does not store the at least one protocol configuration file corresponding to the power supply device, the power supply mode between the power supply device and the consumer electronic product is maintained as a standard specification power mode complying with the power delivery protocol.

13. The power management method of claim 10, wherein the first power supply protocol comprises: receiving, by the power management device via the differential signal pin pair, a protocol signal sent by the power supply device; identifying, by the power management device based on the at least one protocol configuration file stored in the memory, the protocol signal; when the power management device successfully identifies the protocol signal sent by the power supply device, sending, by the power management device via the differential signal pin pair, a reply signal corresponding to the protocol signal to the power supply device, so that the power supply device adjusts the power supply mode to a high-power mode, wherein the power of the high-power mode exceeds the power specified by the USB 2.0 specification; and when the power management device fails to identify the protocol signal sent by the power supply device, or when the power supply device does not send the protocol signal, the power supply mode between the power supply device and the consumer electronic product is maintained as a standard specification power mode complying with the USB 2.0 specification.

14. The power management method of claim 10, wherein the differential signal pin pair comprises D+ and D- pins of a USB connector.

15. The power management method of claim 10, wherein the memory further stores traceability data for being read by an electronic device via the configuration channel pin.

16. The power management method of claim 15, wherein the traceability data includes at least one of a product serial number, manufacturing date information, and manufacturer information.

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