Power supply unit with connector protection circuit

Abstract

A power supply unit is disclosed having improved tolerance to overheating due to conductive environmental contamination of electrical contacts of a connector of the power supply unit. In one example, the connector includes one or more electrical contacts configured to receive one or more signals indicating that the connector is connected to an electronic device. The power supply unit includes a protection circuit configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit from the connector based on detecting that a voltage on at least one of the one or more electrical contacts is greater than an expected / reference voltage. A higher than expected voltage may indicate that conductive contamination has formed a short circuit between different electrical contacts of the connector. The power supply unit can be disabled based on the detection of conductive contamination to prevent overheating and / or degradation of the connector.

Description

[0001] background

[0002] The connector of the power supply unit can be selectively connected to an electronic device (i.e., a "load"), such as a tablet, laptop, or smartphone. The power connector is equipped with conductive power and ground electrical contacts that can be selectively electrically connected to the electronic device to transfer current from the power supply unit to the electronic device. Summary of the invention

[0003] This summary is provided to introduce in a simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all of the disadvantages mentioned in any part of this disclosure.

[0004] A power supply unit is disclosed having improved tolerance to overheating due to conductive environmental contamination of electrical contacts of a connector of the power supply unit. In one example, the connector includes one or more electrical contacts configured to receive one or more signals indicating that the connector is connected to an electronic device. The power supply unit includes a protection circuit configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit from the connector based on detecting that a voltage on at least one of the one or more electrical contacts is greater than an expected / reference voltage. A higher than expected voltage may indicate that conductive contamination has formed a short circuit between different electrical contacts of the connector. The power supply unit can be disabled based on the detection of conductive contamination to prevent overheating and / or degradation of the connector. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of an example power supply unit.

[0007] Figure 2 An example configuration of a power supply unit is schematically shown.

[0008] Figure 3 Another example configuration of a power supply unit is schematically shown.

[0009] Figure 4 Aspects of a method for operating a power supply unit are shown.

[0010] Detailed Description

[0011] The power supply unit may be selectively connected to an electronic device to deliver current from the power supply unit to the electronic device. In some examples, the connector of the power supply unit may be equipped with an "enable signal" electrical contact that indicates when the connector is connected to a load. The enable signal instructs the power supply unit to deliver full power to the connected electronic device. The enable signal is designed to prevent the electronic device from receiving full power if the power electrical contact of the connector is shorted to the ground electrical contact of the connector.

[0012] However, such connectors may be susceptible to environmental conductive contamination. As an example, the electrical contacts of the connector may be in contact with a conductive liquid (e.g., water, soup, soda). Subsequently, trace elements from the conductive liquid, such as electrolytes (e.g., salt, chlorine), may be deposited on the electrical contacts of the connector. Such deposition may produce an electrical short circuit, or a partially shorted pin. As an example, a short circuit or a partial short circuit between a power supply electrical contact and an enable electrical contact caused by conductive contamination may apply a voltage higher than the expected enable voltage to the enable electrical contact from the enable signal. An enable voltage higher than expected may cause the connector to overheat and / or degrade by connecting full power to a short circuit or a partial short circuit between the power supply and ground electrical contacts. As another example, a short circuit or a partial short circuit between a power supply electrical contact and a ground electrical contact caused by conductive contamination may provide a resistive current path that may cause the connector to overheat and / or degrade.

[0013] Therefore, the present disclosure relates to a power supply unit having improved tolerance for overheating due to conductive pollution of the environment. The power supply unit can be configured to detect one or more signals at one or more electrical contacts of a connector of the power supply unit. The one or more signals can indicate that an electronic device is connected to the power supply unit. The one or more signals can have an expected voltage. The power supply unit can be configured to shut down based on a voltage on at least one of the one or more electrical contacts being greater than an expected voltage. By doing so, the possibility of overheating and / or degradation of the connector of the power supply unit can be reduced.

[0014] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of an example power supply unit 100. The power supply unit 100 can be selectively connected to a power source 102 to receive energy in the form of electric current from the power source 102. The power source 102 can take any suitable form. Non-limiting examples of suitable power sources include a power outlet connected to a power grid, a battery, a fuel cell, a generator, an alternator, and a solar power converter.

[0015] The power supply unit 100 can be electrically connected to the connector 104 via a hardwired circuit connection. In some examples, such a hardwired circuit connection can be incorporated into a power cable connected between the power supply unit 100 and the connector 104. The connector 104 can be configured to deliver the current output from the power supply unit 100 to an electronic device (i.e., a load) 106 that is selectively electrically connected to the connector 104. When the electronic device 106 is connected to the connector 104, the power supply unit 100 can be configured to convert the current from the power supply 102 into a suitable voltage, current, and frequency to power the connected electronic device 106. The electronic device 106 can take any suitable form. Non-limiting examples of suitable electronic devices include tablet computers, laptop computers, desktop computers, smart phones, game consoles, audio devices, display devices, and battery-powered devices.

[0016] The connector 104 can be selectively connected to the electronic device 106 through a plurality of electrical contacts in the form of conductive pins 108. The electrical contacts of the connector 104 can take any suitable form. Non-limiting examples of the electrical contacts of the connector 104 include conductive leads or wires, screws, clips, plugs, sockets, jacks, and rings. For the purposes of the present invention, the electrical contacts of the connector 104 are referred to as "pins" hereinafter. As an example, the plurality of conductive pins 108 may include at least one power pin, at least one ground pin, and one or more additional pins. In some examples, the interface between the connector 104 and the electronic device 106 may be implemented as a male / female or plug / slot connection. One or more additional pins may receive a signal indicating that the electronic device 106 is connected to the connector 104. In some examples, the one or more additional pins may include one or more enable pins configured to receive an enable signal. In some examples, the one or more additional pins may include one or more data pins configured to receive one or more data signals.

[0017] The power supply 100 may include a switch circuit 110 configured to switch the power supply unit 100 between operating in a low power mode and operating in a high power mode based on whether a signal is detected at at least one of the one or more additional pins of the connector 104. Under appropriate (e.g., non-contaminated) operating conditions, the signal may indicate whether the electronic device 106 is electrically connected to the connector 104. If the switch circuit 110 does not detect a signal, such as when the connector 104 is not connected to the electronic device 106, the switch circuit 110 causes the power supply unit 100 to operate in a low power mode. In the low power mode, the current output from the power pin of the connector 104 is limited to little or no current. If the switch circuit 110 detects the signal, the switch circuit 110 switches the power supply unit 100 to operate in a high power mode. In the high power mode, a current corresponding to the full power of the electronic device 106 is provided from the power supply unit 100 through the connector 104 to the electronic device 106. Once the switch circuit 110 has switched the power supply unit 100 to operate in the high power mode, the power supply unit 100 may remain in the high power mode until the switch circuit 110 no longer detects a signal. At this point, the switch circuit 110 switches the power supply unit 100 to operate in the low power mode.

[0018] The plurality of conductive pins 108 of the connector 104 may be exposed to the environment, so that conductive contamination materials (such as electrolytes (e.g., salts, chlorine)) may be deposited on the conductive pins 108. Such conductive contamination deposition may produce electrically shorted or partially shorted pins within the connector 104. In order to prevent the connector 104 from overheating and / or degradation due to shorted or partially shorted pins caused by contamination, the power supply unit 100 includes a protection circuit 112. The protection circuit 112 is configured to compare the voltage at one of the one or more additional pins with a reference voltage corresponding to an expected voltage for an appropriate (e.g., uncontaminated) operating condition of the connector 104, indicating that the electronic device 106 is connected to the connector 104. The expected voltage may be significantly different from the power supply voltage of the power supply unit 100. For example, the reference voltage may be less than or equal to 3.3 volts, while the power supply voltage may be greater than 3.3 volts. In a specific example, the power supply voltage is 15 volts, while the expected voltage is 3.3 volts. The power supply voltage and the reference voltage may be any suitable voltage. An operating condition in which the voltage at the additional pin connected to the protection circuit 112 is greater than the reference voltage may indicate that the connector 104 has a shorted or partially shorted pin, which may be the result of contamination. The protection circuit 112 may be configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit 100 from the connector 104 in response to the voltage at the additional pin connected to the protection circuit 112 being greater than the reference voltage. In one example, the protection circuit 112 electrically disconnects the power supply unit 100 from the connector 104 by turning off the power supply unit 100. In another example, a switch circuit located between the power supply unit 100 and the connector 104 may be used to electrically disconnect the power supply unit 100 from the connector 104. This intervention action prevents the full power of the power supply unit 100 from being delivered to the pin 108 of the connector 104. In this way, the connector 104 may be prevented from overheating and / or degradation. Note that the action of the protection circuit 112 may take precedence over the action of the switch circuit 110 to protect the power supply unit 100 and / or the connector 104.

[0019] Figure 2 An example configuration of a power supply unit 200 is schematically shown. The power supply unit 200 can be selectively electrically connected to a power source 202. The power supply unit 200 includes a connector 204 that is configured to selectively connect to an electronic device 206 (described herein as a "load") via a plurality of conductive pins 208. Specifically, the connector 204 includes one or more power pins 208A, one or more ground pins 208B connected to a ground reference, and one or more enable pins 208C.

[0020] The power supply unit 200 includes a switch circuit 210 and a protection circuit 212. The switch circuit 210 is electrically connected between the power supply unit 200 and the power pin 208A. The switch circuit 210 is further electrically connected to the enable pin 208C. The switch circuit 210 includes a current limiting resistor 214 electrically connected between the power supply unit 200 and the power pin 208A. The current limiting resistor 214 is connected in series with the power pin 208A. The current limiting resistor 214 is configured to limit the power current provided from the power supply unit 200 to the power pin 208A. The current limiting resistor 214 can be configured to have any appropriate resistance to limit the power current output from the power supply unit 200.

[0021] The switch circuit 210 includes a transistor 216 electrically connected in parallel with a current limiting resistor 214. The transistor 216 includes a source, a gate and a drain. The source is electrically connected between the power supply unit 200 and the current limiting resistor 214. The drain is electrically connected between the current limiting resistor 214 and the power supply pin 208A. The gate is electrically connected to the enable pin 208C. According to this arrangement, the transistor 216 is configured to be turned on in response to the enable voltage of the enable signal at the enable pin 208C being greater than the threshold voltage (e.g., 1V) of the transistor 216. When the transistor 216 is turned on, the current limiting resistor 214 is short-circuited, and the power supply current from the power supply unit 200 is allowed to flow to the power supply pin 208A through the transistor 216. In one example, the full power of the power supply unit 200 is 15 volts. It should be understood that the full power output from the power supply unit 200 can have any suitable voltage.

[0022] In the depicted configuration, the switch circuit 210 is configured to limit the supply current from the power supply unit 200 to the power supply pin 208A based at least in part on the absence of the enable signal at the enable pin 208C. Additionally, the switch circuit 210 is configured to allow the supply current from the power supply unit 200 to be supplied to the power supply pin 208A based at least in part on the detection of the enable signal at the enable pin 208C.

[0023] Protection circuit 212 is electrically connected between power supply unit 200 and enable pin 208C. Protection circuit 212 includes comparator 218, and comparator 218 includes first input and second input. Comparator 218 can take any suitable form. The first input is electrically connected to enable pin 208C. The second input is electrically connected to reference voltage 220. Reference voltage 220 corresponds to the expected voltage of the enable signal for the appropriate (e.g., uncontaminated) operating condition of connector 204. In a specific example, reference voltage 220 is set to 3.3 volts. It should be understood that the reference voltage can be set to any suitable expected voltage for the enable signal. Comparator 218 is configured to compare the voltage detected at enable pin 208C with reference voltage 220, and outputs a digital signal indicating which voltage is greater. For example, comparator 218 may output a digital signal corresponding to zero based on the voltage detected at enable pin 208C being less than or equal to reference voltage 220 , or may output a digital signal corresponding to one based on the voltage detected at enable pin 208C being greater than reference voltage 220 .

[0024] The protection circuit 212 includes a latch circuit 222 electrically connected between the output of the comparator 218 and the power supply unit 200. The latch circuit 222 can take any suitable form. The latch circuit 222 is configured to shut down the power supply unit 200 in response to the comparator 218 outputting a signal indicating that the enable voltage detected at the enable pin 208C is greater than the reference voltage 220. For example, as long as the comparator 218 outputs a signal indicating that the enable voltage is less than or equal to the reference voltage 220, the latch circuit 220 can provide a low signal to the power supply unit 200. In response to the comparator 218 outputting a signal indicating that the enable voltage is greater than the reference voltage 220, the latch circuit 222 can switch from providing a low signal to providing a high signal to the power supply unit 200. This change from low to high can trigger the shutdown of the power supply unit 200.

[0025] In some implementations, the latch circuit 222 may optionally be configured to reset based on a power cycle of the power supply unit 200 and / or based on the removal of a short circuit or partial short circuit from the connector 204. Such a reset condition may indicate that the connector 204 has been restored to a working state and is free of contamination. In other implementations, once a short circuit condition caused by contamination is detected, the connector 204 may remain inoperable.

[0026] In some implementations, the switch circuit can be electrically located intermediate the power supply unit 200 and the connector 204. The switch circuit can be configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit 200 from the connector 204 based at least in part on the enable voltage at the enable pin 208C being greater than the reference voltage 200.

[0027] The operation of the power supply unit 200 is characterized by the table depicted below.

[0028]

[0029] According to the table, when the enable signal is not detected as indicated by the enable voltage being zero, the transistor 216 is turned off and the comparator 218 indicates that the reference voltage is greater than the enable voltage, so the power supply unit 200 operates in a low power mode in which the current is limited to be supplied to the connector 204. When the enable signal is detected and the enable voltage is greater than the threshold voltage of the transistor (e.g., 1V) and less than or equal to the reference voltage (e.g., 3.3V), the transistor is turned on and the output of the comparator remains low, so the power supply unit 200 operates in a high power mode to supply current to the connector 204 connected to the electronic device 206. When the enable signal is detected and the enable voltage is greater than the reference voltage, the comparator 218 goes high, which triggers the latch circuit 222 to turn off the power supply unit 200.

[0030] Figure 3 Another example configuration of a power supply unit 300 is schematically shown. In this example, the power supply unit 300 includes a connector 304 configured as a universal serial bus (USB) connector. The USB cable (with connector) may have a standard or non-fixed cable that can be disconnected from the power supply unit and used to transfer data between devices or to charge the device using another USB power supply unit or a device with the same type of USB connector. More specifically, the connector 304 is configured as a USB-C type connector. The USB C-type connector may be susceptible to environmental contamination, where the power pins are shorted or partially shorted to the ground pins through the metal shell 301, which encapsulates multiple pins of the connector 304 or any ground pins (e.g., 308B).

[0031] The power supply unit 300 can be selectively electrically connected to the power source 302. The connector 304 can be configured to be selectively connected to the electronic device 206 (described herein as a "load") via a plurality of conductive pins 308. Specifically, the connector 304 includes twenty-four conductive pins encapsulated in the metal housing 301. These conductive pins include four power pins 308A, four ground pins 308B connected to a ground reference, a plurality of data pins including a first data pin 308C and a second data pin 308D, and additional pins for various other functions. The first data pin 308C and the second data pin 308D are adjacently positioned on each side of the power pin 308A. Specifically, the first data pin 308C is a configuration channel line (CC1), and the second data pin 308D is a transmission line (TX-). Each of these data pins transmits different types of data between the power supply unit 300 and the electronic device 306. This pin arrangement is the same for each power pin in the connector 304. In one example, each of the first and second data pins 308C, 308D has a signal voltage less than or equal to 3.3 volts.

[0032] The power supply unit 300 includes a switch circuit 310 and a protection circuit 312. The switch circuit 310 is electrically connected between the power supply unit 300 and the power pin 308A. The switch circuit 310 is further electrically connected to the first data pin 308C, i.e., the configuration channel pin CC1. The switch circuit 310 includes a transistor 314 electrically connected between the power supply unit 300 and the power pin 308A. The transistor 314 includes a source, a gate, and a drain. The source is electrically connected to the power supply unit 300. The drain is connected to the power pin 308A. The gate is electrically connected to the USB port controller 316. The USB port controller 316 is connected between the power supply unit 300 and the first data pin 308C, i.e., the channel configuration pin CC1. The USB port controller 316 can be configured to receive USB channel configuration information from the electronic device 306 via the first data pin 308C based on at least the electronic device 306 being connected to the connector 300. The USB channel configuration information can indicate how the data transmission pin 308D is configured for a specific type of connection. According to this arrangement, the USB port controller 316 is configured to send an activation signal to the gate of the transistor 314 in response to the data voltage of the first data pin 308C detected by the USB port controller 316. The data voltage must be less than a threshold voltage (e.g., 1V) of the USB port controller 316 so that the USB port controller 316 turns on the transistor 314. When the transistor 314 is turned on, the power current from the power supply unit 300 is allowed to flow to the power pin 308A through the transistor 314. In one example, the full power of the power supply unit 300 is 15 volts. It should be understood that the full power output from the power supply unit 300 can have any suitable voltage.

[0033] In the depicted configuration, the switch circuit 310 is configured to limit the power current provided from the power supply unit 300 to the power supply pin 308A based at least on the data signal not being detected at the first pin 308C. Additionally, the switch circuit 310 is configured to allow the power current to be supplied from the power supply unit 300 to the power supply pin 308A based at least on the data signal being detected at the first data pin 308C.

[0034] Protection circuit 312 is electrically connected between power supply unit 300 and second data pin 308D, i.e., transmission line pin TX-. Protection circuit 312 includes comparator 318, which includes a first input and a second input. Comparator 318 can take any suitable form. The first input is electrically connected to second data pin 308D. The second input is electrically connected to reference voltage 320. Reference voltage 320 corresponds to the expected voltage of the data signal for the appropriate (e.g., uncontaminated) operating condition of connector 304. In a specific example, reference voltage 320 is set to 3.3 volts. It should be understood that the reference voltage can be set to any suitable expected voltage for data signal. Comparator 318 is configured to compare the voltage detected at the second data pin 308D with reference voltage 320, and outputs a digital signal indicating which voltage is greater. For example, the comparator 318 may output a digital signal corresponding to zero based on the voltage detected at the second data pin 308D being less than or equal to the reference voltage 320 , or may output a digital signal corresponding to one based on the voltage detected at the second data pin 308D being greater than the reference voltage 320 .

[0035] The protection circuit 312 includes a latch circuit 322 electrically connected between the output of the comparator 318 and the power supply unit 300. The latch circuit 322 can take any suitable form. The latch circuit 322 is configured to shut down the power supply unit 300 in response to the comparator 318 outputting a signal indicating that the data voltage detected at the second data pin 308D is greater than the reference voltage 320. For example, as long as the comparator 318 outputs a signal indicating that the data voltage is less than or equal to the reference voltage 320, the latch circuit 322 can provide a low signal to the power supply unit 300. In response to the comparator 318 outputting a signal indicating that the enable voltage is greater than the reference voltage 320, the latch circuit 322 can switch from providing a low signal to providing a high signal to the power supply unit 300. This change from low to high can trigger the shutdown of the power supply unit 300.

[0036] In some implementations, the latch circuit 322 may optionally be configured to reset based on a power cycle of the power supply unit 300 and / or based on the removal of a short circuit or partial short circuit from the connector 304. Such a reset condition may indicate that the connector 304 has been restored to a working state and is free of contamination. In other implementations, once a short circuit condition caused by contamination is detected, the connector 304 may remain inoperable.

[0037] In some implementations, the switch circuit can be electrically located between the power supply unit 300 and the connector 304. The switch circuit can be configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit 300 from the connector 304 based at least in part on the data voltage at the second data pin 308D being greater than the reference voltage 300.

[0038] The operation of the power supply unit 300 is characterized by the table depicted below.

[0039]

[0040] According to the table, when the data signal (CC1) is high, indicating that the electronic device is not connected to the connector 304, the transistor is turned off and the comparator indicates that the reference voltage is greater than the data voltage, so the power supply unit 300 operates in a no-power mode in which the current is cut off and not supplied to the connector 304. When the CC1 signal is low and the TX1-signal voltage is less than or equal to the reference voltage, the transistor is turned on and the output of the comparator remains low, so the power supply unit 300 operates in a high-power mode to supply current from the power supply unit 300 to the electronic device 306 through the connector 304. When the CC1 signal is low and the TX1-signal voltage is greater than the reference voltage, the comparator becomes high, which triggers the latch circuit to turn off the power supply unit 300.

[0041] In the depicted USB type connector configuration, by monitoring the voltage on the data pins adjacent to the power pins for a contamination-induced short circuit condition, it is possible to shut down the power supply unit in response to detecting such a condition to reduce the likelihood of connector 304 overheating and / or degradation.

[0042] Figure 4 Aspects of a method 400 for operating a power supply unit are shown. For example, the method 400 may be performed by Figure 1 The power supply unit 100 shown in Figure 2 The power supply unit 200 shown in FIG. Figure 3 . At 402, method 400 includes determining whether an enable / data signal is detected at one or more enable / data pins of a connector. If the enable / data signal is detected, method 400 moves to 406. Otherwise, if the enable / data signal is not detected, method 400 moves to 404. At 404, method 400 includes operating the connector in a low-power mode, in which current is limited to be provided from the power supply unit to the power pins of the connector. When operating in the low-power mode, method 400 repeatedly returns to 402 to poll the enable / data signal.

[0043] At 406, method 400 includes determining whether the detected enable / data voltage of the enable / data signal is greater than a threshold voltage of a transistor connected between the power supply unit and the power pin of the connector. The threshold voltage is the minimum voltage at which the transistor is turned on. If the enable / data voltage is greater than the threshold voltage, method 400 moves to 408. Otherwise, method 400 returns to 402.

[0044] At 408, method 400 includes determining whether the detected enable / data voltage of the enable / data signal is greater than a reference voltage. The reference voltage corresponds to an expected voltage of the enable signal for proper (e.g., uncontaminated) operating conditions of the connector. If the enable / data voltage is greater than the reference voltage, method 400 moves to 410. Otherwise, method 400 moves to 414.

[0045] At 410, it has been determined that the detected enable / data voltage of the enable / data signal is greater than a reference voltage, indicating that the connector has a short circuit or a partial pin, and the method 400 includes electrically disconnecting the power supply unit from the connector. In some examples, electrically disconnecting the power supply unit from the connector includes turning off the power supply unit to reduce the possibility of overheating and / or degradation of the connector. In other examples, based at least in part on the enable / data voltage being greater than the reference voltage, a switch circuit electrically located between the power supply unit and the connector can be used to electrically disconnect the power supply unit from the connector.

[0046] In some implementations, at 414, the method optionally may include determining whether the power supply unit has been power cycled to reset the power supply unit and / or remove a short or partial short from the connector. Power cycling of the power supply unit may indicate that the connector has been in a working state and may be returned to normal operation. If it is determined that the power supply unit has been power cycled and / or the short or partial short has been removed from the connector, the method 400 returns to 402. Otherwise, the method 400 returns to 412.

[0047] At 414, it has been determined that the enable / data voltage of the enable / data signal is within an expected voltage range, and method 400 includes operating the connector in a high power mode in which current is allowed to be supplied from the power supply unit to the power pins of the connector to power an electronic device connected to the connector.

[0048] In one example, a power supply unit includes: a connector that can be selectively connected to an electronic device, the connector including at least one power electrical contact and one or more additional electrical contacts, the one or more additional electrical contacts being configured to receive one or more signals indicating that the connector is electrically connected to the electronic device, each of the one or more signals having the same expected voltage; a switching circuit that is electrically connected between the power supply unit and the at least one power electrical contact and is further electrically connected to at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts, wherein the switching circuit is configured to limit power current from the power supply unit to the at least one power electrical contact based at least in part on one or more signals not being detected by the switching circuit, and to allow power current from the power supply unit to be supplied to the at least one power electrical contact based at least in part on at least one of the one or more signals being detected by the switching circuit; and a protection circuit that is electrically connected to the power supply unit and at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts and is further electrically connected to a reference voltage corresponding to the expected voltage of the one or more signals, wherein the protection circuit is configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit from the connector in response to a voltage at at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts being greater than the reference voltage. In this and / or other examples, the switch circuit may be connected to the enable electrical contact and configured to detect an enable signal at the enable electrical contact, and the protection circuit may be configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit from the connector by shutting down the power supply unit in response to a voltage of the enable signal being greater than a reference voltage. In this and / or other examples, the switch circuit may include a current limiting resistor electrically connected between the power supply unit and at least one power electrical contact, the current limiting resistor may be configured to limit the power current provided from the power supply unit to the at least one power electrical contact. In this and / or other examples, the switch circuit may include a transistor electrically connected in parallel with the current limiting resistor, the transistor may include a gate electrically connected to at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts, the transistor may be configured to turn on in response to being supplied with at least one of the one or more signals to short-circuit the current limiting resistor and allow the power current to be supplied from the power supply unit to the power electrical contact. In this and / or other examples, the protection circuit may include a comparator including a first input and a second input, the first input may be electrically connected to at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts, the second input may be electrically connected to a reference voltage, and the comparator may be configured to indicate whether a voltage of at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts is greater than the reference voltage. In this and / or other examples, the protection circuit may include a latch circuit electrically connected between an output of the comparator and the power supply unit, the latch circuit may be configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit from the connector by shutting down the power supply unit in response to the comparator outputting a signal indicating that a voltage of at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts is greater than the reference voltage.In this and / or other examples, the latch circuit may be configured to reset based on power cycling and / or removal of a short or partial short circuit from the connector of the power supply unit. In this and / or other examples, the connector may be a universal serial bus (USB) connector, and the one or more additional electrical contacts may include a first data electrical contact and a second data electrical contact, each of the first data electrical contact and the second data electrical contact being positioned adjacent to at least one power electrical contact. In this and / or other examples, the switch circuit may include a transistor electrically connected between the power supply unit and the power electrical contact, the transistor may include a gate electrically connected to a USB port controller circuit, the USB port controller circuit being configured to turn on the transistor in response to receiving at least one of the one or more signals from the first data electrical contact to allow power current to be supplied from the power supply unit to the power electrical contact. In this and / or other examples, the protection circuit may include a comparator including a first input and a second input, the first input may be electrically connected to the second data electrical contact, the second input may be electrically connected to a reference voltage, and the comparator may be configured to indicate whether the voltage of the second data electrical contact is greater than the reference voltage. In this and / or other examples, the protection circuit may include a latch circuit electrically connected between the output of the comparator and the power supply unit, the latch circuit may be configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit from the connector by turning off the power supply unit in response to the comparator outputting a signal indicating that the voltage of the second data electrical contact is greater than a reference voltage. In this and / or other examples, the power supply voltage corresponding to the power supply current may be greater than 3.3 volts, and the reference voltage may be less than or equal to 3.3 volts.

[0049] In one example, a method for operating a power supply unit includes the following steps, wherein the power supply unit includes a connector that can be selectively connected to an electronic device, the connector includes at least one power electrical contact and one or more additional electrical contacts, the one or more additional electrical contacts are configured to receive one or more signals indicating that the connector is electrically connected to the electronic device, each of the one or more signals having the same expected voltage, and the steps include: limiting power current from the power supply unit to the at least one power electrical contact based at least on the absence of the one or more signals on at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts; allowing power current from the power supply unit to be supplied to the at least one power electrical contact based at least in part on the detection of at least one of the one or more signals on at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts; comparing a voltage on at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts to a reference voltage corresponding to an expected voltage of the one or more signals; and electrically disconnecting the power supply unit from the connector based on the voltage on at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts being greater than the reference voltage. In this and / or other examples, in response to the enable voltage being greater than the reference voltage, the power supply unit is electrically disconnected from the connector by shutting down the power supply unit. In this and / or other examples, the latch circuit can be configured to reset based on power cycling and / or removal of a short or partial short of the power supply unit from the connector. In this and / or other examples, the power supply voltage corresponding to the power supply current can be greater than 3.3 volts, and the reference voltage can be less than or equal to 3.3 volts. In this and / or other examples, the connector can be a universal serial bus (USB) connector, at least one of the one or more signals can be detected via a first data electrical contact positioned adjacent to a power electrical contact in the USB connector, and the voltage can be measured at a second different data electrical contact positioned adjacent to the power electrical contact.

[0050] In one example, a power supply unit includes: a connector that can be selectively connected to an electronic device, the connector including at least one power electrical contact and at least one enable electrical contact or at least one data electrical contact, the at least one enable electrical contact or the at least one data electrical contact being configured to receive an enable signal or a data signal in response to the connector being electrically connected to the electronic device; a current limiting resistor electrically connected between the power supply unit and the at least one power electrical contact, wherein the current limiting resistor is configured to limit the power current provided from the power supply unit to the at least one power electrical contact; a transistor electrically connected in parallel with the current limiting resistor, the transistor including a gate electrically connected to the at least one enable electrical contact or the at least one data electrical contact, wherein the transistor The body tube is configured to conduct in response to detecting an enable signal or a data signal at at least one enable electrical contact or at least one data electrical contact to short-circuit the current limiting resistor and allow the power current to be supplied from the power supply unit to at least one power electrical contact; and a comparator, the comparator comprising a first input, a second input and an output, wherein the first input is electrically connected to at least one of the at least one enable electrical contact or at least one data electrical contact, wherein the second input is electrically connected to a reference voltage, wherein the output is electrically connected to a latch circuit, the latch circuit is further electrically connected to the power supply unit, wherein the comparator is configured to trigger the latch circuit to turn off the power supply unit in response to the enable voltage of the enable signal or the data voltage of the data signal being greater than the reference voltage. In this and / or other examples, the latch circuit can be configured to reset based on the power cycle of the power supply unit and / or the removal of a short circuit or a partial short circuit from the connector. In this and / or other examples, the power supply voltage corresponding to the power supply current can be greater than 3.3 volts, and the reference voltage can be less than or equal to 3.3 volts.

[0051] It should be understood that the configurations and / or methods described herein are exemplary in nature, and these specific embodiments or examples should not be considered to have limiting significance, as many variations are possible. The specific routines or methods described herein may represent one or more of any number of processing strategies. Thus, the various actions illustrated and / or described may be performed in the illustrated and / or described order, in other orders, in parallel, or omitted. Likewise, the order of the processes described above may be changed.

[0052] The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various processes, systems and configurations, and other features, functions, acts, and / or properties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A power supply unit, comprising: a connector selectively connectable to an electronic device, the connector comprising at least one power electrical contact and one or more additional electrical contacts, the one or more additional electrical contacts being configured to receive one or more signals indicating that the connector is electrically connected to the electronic device, each of the one or more signals having a same expected voltage; a switch circuit electrically connected between the power supply unit and the at least one power supply electrical contact and further electrically connected to at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts, wherein the switch circuit is configured to limit power current from the power supply unit to the at least one power supply electrical contact based at least in part on the one or more signals not being detected by the switch circuit, and to allow power current from the power supply unit to be supplied to the at least one power supply electrical contact based at least in part on at least one of the one or more signals being detected by the switch circuit; as well as a protection circuit electrically connected to the power supply unit and at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts and further electrically connected to a reference voltage corresponding to the expected voltage of the one or more signals, wherein the protection circuit is configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit from the connector in response to a voltage at the at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts being greater than the reference voltage.

2. The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein: The switch circuit is connected to the enable electrical contact and is configured to detect an enable signal at the enable electrical contact, and wherein the protection circuit is configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit from the connector by turning off the power supply unit in response to a voltage of the enable signal being greater than the reference voltage.

3. The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein: The switching circuit includes a current limiting resistor electrically connected between the power supply unit and the at least one power supply electrical contact, wherein the current limiting resistor is configured to limit the power supply current provided from the power supply unit to the at least one power supply electrical contact.

4. The power supply unit according to claim 3, wherein: The switching circuit includes a transistor electrically connected in parallel with the current limiting resistor, the transistor including a gate electrically connected to at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts, wherein the transistor is configured to be turned on in response to being supplied with at least one of the one or more signals to short-circuit the current limiting resistor and allow the power current to be supplied from the power supply unit to the power electrical contact.

5. The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein: The protection circuit includes a comparator, the comparator including a first input and a second input, wherein the first input is electrically connected to at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts, the second input is electrically connected to the reference voltage, and wherein the comparator is configured to indicate whether the voltage of at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts is greater than the reference voltage.

6. The power supply unit according to claim 5, wherein: The protection circuit includes a latch circuit electrically connected between the output of the comparator and the power supply unit, wherein the latch circuit is configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit from the connector by turning off the power supply unit in response to the comparator outputting a signal indicating that the voltage of at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts is greater than the reference voltage.

7. The power supply unit according to claim 6, wherein: The latch circuit is configured to reset based on power cycling of the power supply unit and / or removal of a short circuit or a partial short circuit from the connector.

8. The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein: The connector is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, wherein the one or more additional electrical contacts include a first data electrical contact and a second data electrical contact, each of the first data electrical contact and the second data electrical contact being positioned adjacent to the at least one power electrical contact.

9. The power supply unit according to claim 8, wherein: The switching circuit includes a transistor electrically connected between the power supply unit and the power electrical contact, wherein the transistor includes a gate electrically connected to a USB port controller circuit, the USB port controller circuit being configured to turn on the transistor in response to receiving at least one of the one or more signals from the first data electrical contact to allow the power current to be supplied from the power supply unit to the power electrical contact.

10. The power supply unit according to claim 8, wherein: The protection circuit includes a comparator, the comparator including a first input and a second input, wherein the first input is electrically connected to the second data electrical contact, wherein the second input is electrically connected to the reference voltage, and wherein the comparator is configured to indicate whether the voltage of the second data electrical contact is greater than the reference voltage.

11. The power supply unit according to claim 10, wherein: The protection circuit includes a latch circuit electrically connected between the output of the comparator and the power supply unit, wherein the latch circuit is configured to electrically disconnect the power supply unit from the connector by turning off the power supply unit in response to the comparator outputting a signal indicating that the voltage of the second data electrical contact is greater than the reference voltage.

12. The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein: A power supply voltage corresponding to the power supply current is greater than 3.3 volts, and the reference voltage is less than or equal to 3.3 volts.

13. A method for operating a power supply unit, the power supply unit comprising a connector selectively connectable to an electronic device, the connector comprising at least one power electrical contact and one or more additional electrical contacts, the one or more additional electrical contacts being configured to receive one or more signals indicating that the connector is electrically connected to the electronic device, each of the one or more signals having the same expected voltage, the method comprising: limiting supply current from the power supply unit to the at least one power electrical contact based at least on a failure to detect the one or more signals on at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts; allowing the supply current to be supplied from the power supply unit to the at least one power electrical contact based at least in part on detecting at least one of the one or more signals on at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts; comparing a voltage on at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts to a reference voltage corresponding to an expected voltage of the one or more signals; as well as The power supply unit is electrically disconnected from the connector based on the voltage on at least one of the one or more additional electrical contacts being greater than the reference voltage.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein: In response to the enable voltage being greater than the reference voltage, the power supply unit is electrically disconnected from the connector by turning off the power supply unit via a latch circuit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein: The latch circuit is configured to reset based on power cycling of the power supply unit and / or removal of a short circuit or a partial short circuit from the connector.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein: A power supply voltage corresponding to the power supply current is greater than 3.3 volts, and the reference voltage is less than or equal to 3.3 volts.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein: The connector is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, wherein the at least one of the one or more signals is detected through a first data electrical contact positioned adjacent to a power electrical contact in the USB connector, and wherein the voltage is measured at a second, different data electrical contact positioned adjacent to the power electrical contact.

18. A power supply unit, comprising: a connector selectively connectable to an electronic device, the connector comprising at least one power electrical contact and at least one enable electrical contact or at least one data electrical contact, the at least one enable electrical contact or the at least one data electrical contact being configured to receive an enable signal or a data signal in response to the connector being electrically connected to the electronic device; a current limiting resistor electrically connected between the power supply unit and the at least one power supply electrical contact, wherein the current limiting resistor is configured to limit a power current provided from the power supply unit to the at least one power supply electrical contact; a transistor electrically connected in parallel with the current limiting resistor, the transistor comprising a gate electrically connected to the at least one enable electrical contact or the at least one data electrical contact, wherein the transistor is configured to be turned on in response to detecting the enable signal or the data signal at the at least one enable electrical contact or the at least one data electrical contact to short-circuit the current limiting resistor and allow the power current to be supplied from the power supply unit to the at least one power electrical contact; as well as A comparator comprising a first input, a second input and an output, wherein the first input is electrically connected to at least one of the at least one enable electrical contact or the at least one data electrical contact, wherein the second input is electrically connected to a reference voltage, wherein the output is electrically connected to a latch circuit, and the latch circuit is further electrically connected to the power supply unit, wherein the comparator is configured to trigger the latch circuit to turn off the power supply unit in response to an enable voltage of the enable signal or a data voltage of the data signal being greater than the reference voltage.

19. The power supply unit according to claim 18, wherein: The latch circuit is configured to reset based on power cycling of the power supply unit and / or removal of a short circuit or a partial short circuit from the connector.

20. The power supply unit of claim 18, wherein: A power supply voltage corresponding to the power supply current is greater than 3.3 volts, and the reference voltage is less than or equal to 3.3 volts.

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