A lightning concentrator charging station

Abstract

The application provides a thunder concentrator charging station, which comprises an AC-DC converter 1, a voltage reduction circuit, a switch circuit, a PD controller, a docking station management controller and a thunder processor; an input end of the AC-DC converter 1 is connected with AC power, a first output end thereof is connected with a first thunder interface through a first current limiter, a second output end thereof is connected with a second thunder interface through a second current limiter, and is connected with an input end of the switch circuit and the PD controller through the voltage reduction circuit; an enable control end of the switch circuit is connected with the PD controller, a clock control end thereof is connected with the docking station management controller, and an output end thereof is connected with the docking station management controller and the thunder processor; the thunder processor is connected with the first thunder interface and the second thunder interface; the docking station management controller is connected with the PD controller; and the PD controller is connected with the first thunder interface and the second thunder interface. The application can be used for charging and transmitting thunder signals, and meets the requirement of 6-level energy consumption.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of lightning signal interfaces, specifically relating to a lightning hub charging station. Background Technology

[0002] Thunderbolt technology was released by Intel in 2011, initially developed to replace and unify the numerous and inconsistently performing expansion interfaces on computers, such as SCSI, SATA, USB, FireWire, and PCIe interfaces. Thunderbolt integrates PCIe data transfer technology and DisplayPort display technology, resulting in faster transmission speeds. The first generation of Thunderbolt had a maximum transmission rate of 10Gbps and used a Mini DP interface. In 2013, Intel released the second generation of Thunderbolt, increasing the maximum transmission rate to 20Gbps, also using a Mini DP interface. In 2015, Intel released the third generation of Thunderbolt, further increasing the maximum transmission rate to 40Gbps and using the more universal USB Type-C interface. The USB Type-C interface supports USB standard functions such as charging, data transfer, and display output. In 2019, Intel released Thunderbolt 4. Although the maximum transmission rate of Thunderbolt 4 is still 40Gbps, it incorporates USB4 signals, further improving the interface's compatibility and making it the computer expansion interface with the highest transmission rate and the best compatibility at present.

[0003] In 2019, Intel also released the new Thunderbolt processor, Goshen Ridge. Goshen Ridge is a Thunderbolt 4 hub processor with four Thunderbolt ports: one upstream and three downstream. Intel also provided a reference design that presented Goshen Ridge as a Thunderbolt 4 hub, featuring only four Thunderbolt 4 ports in a compact form factor. However, this Thunderbolt 4 hub required a 100W desktop power supply to operate. This 100W power supply was larger than the hub itself and could only charge the computer up to 60W, which was insufficient for most consumers. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To at least partially overcome the problems existing in the related technologies, this application provides a lightning hub charging station.

[0005] According to an embodiment of this application, this application provides a lightning hub charging station, which includes an AC-DC converter 1, a first current limiter, a first lightning interface, a second current limiter, one or more second lightning interfaces, a step-down circuit, a switching circuit, a PD controller, a docking station management controller, and a lightning processor;

[0006] The input terminal of the AC-DC converter 1 is connected to AC power, and its first output terminal is connected to the first lightning interface through the first current limiter; the second output terminal of the AC-DC converter 1 is connected to the second lightning interface through the second current limiter, and is connected to the input terminal of the switching circuit and the PD controller through the step-down circuit.

[0007] The enable control terminal of the switching circuit is connected to the PD controller, its clock control terminal is connected to the docking station management controller, and its output terminal is connected to the docking station management controller and the Thunderbolt processor. The Thunderbolt processor is connected to the first Thunderbolt interface and the second Thunderbolt interface via signal lines. The docking station management controller is connected to the PD controller via an I2C bus. The PD controller is connected to the first Thunderbolt interface and the second Thunderbolt interface via an identification line.

[0008] In the aforementioned lightning hub charging station, the input terminal of the AC-DC converter 1 is connected to 100V~240V AC power, and the first output terminal is used to provide DC power with a voltage of 20V and a current of 4.8A, a voltage of 5V and a current of 3A, a voltage of 9V and a current of 3A, and a voltage of 15V and a current of 3A.

[0009] Furthermore, the first lightning interface is equipped with four power levels, allowing different power levels to be selected for power output according to the needs of the device connected to the first lightning interface.

[0010] In the aforementioned lightning hub charging station, the switching circuit includes a first field-effect transistor, a second field-effect transistor, a first resistor, and a capacitor;

[0011] A first resistor is connected between the gate and source of the first field-effect transistor. The gate of the first field-effect transistor is grounded through the capacitor. The first resistor and the capacitor constitute a first RC delay circuit. The source of the first field-effect transistor is connected to the output terminal of the buck circuit to input a 3.3V DC voltage. Its drain is connected to the lightning processor and the docking station management controller.

[0012] The gate of the first field-effect transistor is connected to the drain of the second field-effect transistor; the gate of the second field-effect transistor is connected to the PD controller to input an enable control signal into the second field-effect transistor; the source of the second field-effect transistor is grounded.

[0013] Furthermore, the first field-effect transistor is a P-channel enhancement-mode field-effect transistor, and the second field-effect transistor is an N-channel enhancement-mode field-effect transistor.

[0014] Furthermore, the first field-effect transistor is controlled by whether the first Thunder interface is connected to a computer. If the first Thunder interface is connected to a computer, the first Thunder interface sends a detection signal to the PD controller through the identification line. The PD controller sends an enable control signal to the switching circuit according to the detection signal. The switching circuit supplies power to the Thunder processor and the docking station management controller according to the enable control signal.

[0015] Furthermore, the detection signal is either high or low. When the detection signal is high, it indicates that the first Thunderbolt interface is connected to a computer; when the detection signal is low, it indicates that the first Thunderbolt interface is not connected to a computer.

[0016] Furthermore, the switching circuit also includes a second resistor, one end of which is connected to the gate of the first field-effect transistor, and the other end of which is connected to the drain of the second field-effect transistor; the second resistor and the capacitor constitute a second RC delay circuit.

[0017] Furthermore, the switching circuit also includes a third field-effect transistor and a third resistor. The drain of the third field-effect transistor is connected to the source of the first field-effect transistor through the first resistor. The gate of the third field-effect transistor is connected to the docking station management controller to input a clock control signal into the third field-effect transistor. The gate of the third field-effect transistor is grounded through the third resistor. The source of the third field-effect transistor is grounded.

[0018] Furthermore, the third field-effect transistor is an N-channel enhancement-mode field-effect transistor.

[0019] According to the above specific embodiments of this application, it has at least the following beneficial effects: The lightning hub charging station of this application integrates the power supply part and the lightning processor part together, which can increase the charging power of the computer to 96W, and can charge computers, tablets and mobile phones, as well as transmit lightning signals.

[0020] By designing a switching circuit in the lightning hub charging station of this application, which uses a detection signal for enable control, this application can disconnect the power supply to the lightning processor and its peripheral circuits when no computer is detected connected to the lightning interface, thereby reducing the standby power consumption of the lightning hub charging station. When a computer is detected connected to the lightning interface, the switching circuit supplies power to the lightning processor and its peripheral circuits, enabling them to operate normally. Through ingenious design, this application enables the lightning hub charging station to meet Level 6 energy efficiency requirements while ensuring normal operation. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are part of the specification of this application, illustrate embodiments of the present application and are used together with the description of the specification to illustrate the principles of the present application.

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a lightning hub charging station provided for a specific embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a switching circuit in a lightning hub charging station, provided for a specific embodiment of this application.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0025] 1. AC-DC converter; 2. First current limiter; 3. First lightning interface; 4. Second current limiter; 5. Second lightning interface; 6. Step-down circuit; 7. Switching circuit; 8. PD controller; 9. Dock management controller; 10. Lightning processor. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the spirit of the content disclosed in this application will be clearly explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings and detailed description. After understanding the embodiments of this application, any person skilled in the art can make changes and modifications based on the technology taught in this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application.

[0027] The illustrative embodiments and descriptions provided in this application are for explaining the application, but are not intended to limit the application. Furthermore, elements / components using the same or similar reference numerals in the drawings and embodiments are used to represent the same or similar parts.

[0028] The terms “first,” “second,” etc., used in this document are not intended to specifically refer to order or sequence, nor are they used to limit this application; they are merely used to distinguish elements or operations described using the same technical terms.

[0029] The terms “include,” “including,” “have,” “contain,” etc., used in this article are all open-ended terms, meaning that they include but are not limited to.

[0030] The term "and / or" as used herein includes any or all of the things mentioned.

[0031] The term "multiple" in this article includes "two" and "more than two"; the term "multiple groups" in this article includes "two groups" and "more than two groups".

[0032] Certain terms used to describe this application will be discussed below or elsewhere in this specification to provide additional guidance to those skilled in the art in describing the application.

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, this application provides a lightning hub charging station, which includes an AC-DC converter 1, a first current limiter 2, a first lightning interface 3, a second current limiter 4, one or more second lightning interfaces 5, a step-down circuit 6, a switching circuit 7, a PD (Power Delivery) controller 8, a docking station management controller 9, and a lightning processor 10.

[0034] The input terminal of the AC-DC converter 1 is connected to AC power, and its first output terminal is connected to the first lightning interface 3 through the first current limiter 2; the second output terminal of the AC-DC converter 1 is connected to the second lightning interface 5 through the second current limiter 4, and is connected to the input terminal of the switching circuit 7 and the PD controller 8 through the step-down circuit 6.

[0035] The enable control terminal of the switch circuit 7 is connected to the PD controller 8, its clock control terminal is connected to the docking station management controller 9, and its output terminal is connected to the docking station management controller 9 and the Thunder processor 10. The Thunder processor 10 is connected to the first Thunder interface 3 and the second Thunder interface 5 via signal lines. The docking station management controller 9 is connected to the PD controller 8 via the I2C bus. The PD controller 8 is connected to the first Thunder interface 3 and the second Thunder interface 5 via identification lines.

[0036] In this embodiment, the lightning hub charging station also includes a housing 11, in which an AC-DC converter 1, a first current limiter 2, a first lightning interface 3, a second current limiter 4, one or more second lightning interfaces 5, a step-down circuit 6, a switching circuit 7, a PD controller 8, a docking station management controller 9, and a lightning processor 10 are all disposed.

[0037] In this embodiment, the input terminal of the AC-DC converter 1 is connected to 100V-240V AC power, and its first output terminal can provide DC power of 20V and 4.8A, 5V and 3A, 9V and 3A, and 15V and 3A. These four types of DC power can be output from the first lightning interface 3 through the first current limiter 2. The first lightning interface 3 is provided with four levels, and different levels can be selected for output according to the needs of the device connected to the first lightning interface 3.

[0038] The second lightning interface 5 can be configured with 3 units, and correspondingly, the second current limiter 4 can also be configured with 3 units. There are 2 PD controllers 8, namely the first PD controller 8 and the second PD controller 8.

[0039] The second output terminal of the AC-DC converter 1 is used to provide a DC power of 5V and 3A. One path of the 5V and 3A DC power is converted to 3.3V by the step-down circuit 6 to power the PD controller 8 and the switching circuit 7, and the other path is output from the second lightning interface 5 through the second current limiter 4.

[0040] The input terminal of the switching circuit 7 is connected to the buck circuit 6, its enable control terminal is connected to the first PD controller 8, its clock control terminal is connected to the docking station management controller 9, and its output terminal is connected to the docking station management controller 9 and the Thunder processor 10 to provide a 3.3V power supply voltage to the docking station management controller 9 and the Thunder processor 10. The Thunder processor 10 is connected to the first Thunder interface 3 and the second Thunder interface 5 via signal lines.

[0041] Dock Management Controller 9 via I 2 The C-bus connects to the first PD controller 8 and the second PD controller 8. The docking station management controller 9 connects via I... 2 The C-bus initializes and configures the first PD controller 8 and the second PD controller 8. Specifically, the docking station management controller 9 can use a chip of model DMC CY7C65219.

[0042] The first PD controller 8 is connected to the first Thunderbolt interface 3 via the first identification line and to the second Thunderbolt interface 5 via the second identification line, in order to identify the type of external device connected to the first Thunderbolt interface 3 and the second Thunderbolt interface 5.

[0043] The second PD controller 8 is connected to the other two second Thunderbolt interfaces 5 via the second identification line to identify the type of external device connected to the other two second Thunderbolt interfaces 5.

[0044] The external devices that can be connected include monitors, hard drives, mobile phones, or tablets.

[0045] The lightning hub charging station provided in this application integrates the power supply section and the Goshen Ridge hub section, and increases the charging power of the computer to 96W. It can be used not only as a lightning signal hub to connect computers, monitors, mobile phones and hard drives for data transmission, but also as a charging station to charge computers, tablets and mobile phones. It can also be used in combination as a hub charging station, which can both transmit data and charge devices.

[0046] By setting a PD controller 8 and a switching circuit 7 in the lightning hub charging station provided in this application embodiment, the first PD controller 8 identifies the type of external device connected to the first lightning interface 3, and sends an enable control signal to the switching circuit 7 through the enable control line according to the identification result. The switching circuit 7 disconnects or connects the lightning processor 10 and the docking station management controller 9 according to the enable control signal, so as to reduce the standby power consumption and reduce the standby power consumption of the lightning hub charging station provided in this application embodiment to meet the requirements of level 6 energy efficiency.

[0047] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, the switching circuit 7 includes a first field-effect transistor Q1, a second field-effect transistor Q2, a first resistor R1, and a capacitor C1. The first resistor R1 is connected between the gate and source of the first field-effect transistor Q1, and the gate of the first field-effect transistor Q1 is grounded through the capacitor C1. The first resistor R1 and the capacitor C1 constitute a first RC delay circuit. The source of the first field-effect transistor Q1 is connected to the output terminal of the buck circuit 6 to receive a 3.3V DC voltage; its drain is connected to the Thunder processor 10 and the docking station management controller 9 to provide a 3.3V DC voltage and a 1A current to the Thunder processor 10 and the docking station management controller 9.

[0048] The gate of the first field-effect transistor Q1 is connected to the drain of the second field-effect transistor Q2; the gate of the second field-effect transistor Q2 is connected to the PD controller 8 to input an enable control signal into the second field-effect transistor Q2; the source of the second field-effect transistor Q2 is grounded.

[0049] In this embodiment, the first field-effect transistor Q1 is a P-channel enhancement-mode field-effect transistor, specifically a CJ3401 field-effect transistor. The second field-effect transistor Q2 is an N-channel enhancement-mode field-effect transistor, specifically a 2N7002 field-effect transistor.

[0050] The first field-effect transistor Q1 is controlled by whether the first Thunder interface 3 is connected to a computer. If the first Thunder interface 3 is connected to a computer, the first identification line sends a detection signal to the first PD controller 8. The first PD controller 8 sends an enable control signal to the switching circuit 7 according to the detection signal. The switching circuit 7 supplies power to the Thunder processor 10 and the docking station management controller 9 according to the enable control signal. Otherwise, the switching circuit 7 disconnects from the Thunder processor 10 and the docking station management controller 9 and does not supply power to the Thunder processor 10 and the docking station management controller 9.

[0051] Specifically, the detection signal is either high or low. When the detection signal is high, it indicates that a computer is connected to the first Thunderbolt interface 3; when the detection signal is low, it indicates that a computer is not connected to the first Thunderbolt interface 3.

[0052] The enable control signal controls the first field-effect transistor Q1 to turn on or off through the inverted output of the second field-effect transistor Q2, so as to supply power to or disconnect the Thunder processor 10 and the docking station management controller 9.

[0053] When testing the standby power consumption of the Thunderbolt hub charging station provided in this application embodiment, the docking station management controller 9 is first powered on, and the docking station management controller 9 communicates with the I-channels. 2 The C-bus initializes and configures the first PD controller 8 and the second PD controller 8. After configuration, the power supply to the docking station management controller 9 is disconnected. Thus, when the Thunderbolt hub charging station is in standby mode, both the first PD controller 8 and the second PD controller 8 are in standby mode.

[0054] When the first Thunderbolt interface 3 is connected to the computer, the first PD controller 8 starts working, sets the enable control signal to a high level, turns on the switching circuit 7, and supplies power to the Thunderbolt processor 10 and the docking station management controller 9 with 3.3V.

[0055] For example, in a specific embodiment of this application, the resistance of the first resistor R1 is set to 330KΩ, the capacitance of the capacitor C1 is set to 10μF, and the time constant of the first RC delay circuit is 3.3 seconds.

[0056] When the Thunderbolt hub charging station is powered on, the first field-effect transistor Q1 in the switching circuit 7 is turned on for 2.5 seconds and then turned off. The docking station management controller 9 can complete the initialization configuration of the first PD controller 8 and the second PD controller 8 within 0.8 seconds. In this way, the Thunderbolt hub charging station can complete normal initialization after power-on. After initialization, the power supply to the Thunderbolt processor 10 and the docking station management controller 9 is disconnected, so that the standby power consumption of the Thunderbolt hub charging station provided in this embodiment can meet the requirements of Level 6 energy efficiency.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the switching circuit 7 further includes a second resistor R2. One end of the second resistor R2 is connected to the gate of the first field-effect transistor Q1, and the other end is connected to the drain of the second field-effect transistor Q2. The second resistor R2 and the capacitor C1 form a second RC delay circuit, which slowly turns on the first field-effect transistor Q1 to avoid interfering with the input voltage of the source of the first field-effect transistor Q1 and ensure normal function.

[0058] When the first Thunderbolt interface 3 is connected to the computer, the detection signal is high, and the enable control signal is set to high. If the second resistor R2 is not set, the gate of the first field-effect transistor Q1 will be pulled low momentarily, and Q1 will turn on instantly. The Thunderbolt processor 10 and the docking station management controller 9 will draw a large current momentarily, causing a large fluctuation in the voltage input to the source of Q1, which will cause abnormal states of the first PD controller 8 and the second PD controller 8. By setting the second resistor R2 between the gate of the first field-effect transistor Q1 and the drain of the second field-effect transistor Q2, the second resistor R2 and the capacitor C1 form a second RC delay circuit when Q2 turns on, which can make the first field-effect transistor Q1 turn on slowly, avoiding interference to the input voltage of the source of the first field-effect transistor Q1 and ensuring normal function.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the switching circuit 7 further includes a third field-effect transistor Q3 and a third resistor R3. The drain of the third field-effect transistor Q3 is connected to the source of the first field-effect transistor Q1 through a first resistor R1. The gate of the third field-effect transistor Q3 is connected to the docking station management controller 9 to input a clock control signal into the third field-effect transistor Q3. The gate of the third field-effect transistor Q3 is grounded through the third resistor R3. The source of the third field-effect transistor Q3 is grounded.

[0060] By setting a third field-effect transistor Q3 and a third resistor R3, an online firmware upgrade for the lightning hub charging station is achieved with the assistance of a clock control signal. The third field-effect transistor Q3 is an N-channel enhancement-mode field-effect transistor, specifically a 2N7002 type.

[0061] When no firmware upgrade is performed, the clock control signal is low, and the third MOSFET Q3 is not turned on, which does not affect the state of the first MOSFET Q1. During a firmware upgrade, the clock control signal is a 1MHz square wave. As long as the clock control signal reaches a high level once, the first MOSFET Q1 can remain on for 2.5 seconds under the action of the first RC delay circuit. If the clock control signal continuously has a 1MHz square wave during the firmware upgrade process, the first MOSFET Q1 can remain on until the firmware upgrade is complete.

[0062] By setting a switching circuit 7 in the lightning hub charging station, the lightning hub charging station can meet the standby power consumption requirements of level 6 energy efficiency, meet the needs of normal consumer use, and meet the requirements of product firmware upgrades.

[0063] The above description is merely an illustrative embodiment of this application. Any equivalent changes and modifications made by those skilled in the art without departing from the concept and principles of this application shall fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A lightning hub charging station, characterized in that, It includes an AC-DC converter, a first current limiter, a first lightning interface, a second current limiter, one or more second lightning interfaces, a step-down circuit, a switching circuit, a PD controller, a docking station management controller, and a lightning processor; The input terminal of the AC-DC converter is connected to AC power, and its first output terminal is connected to the first lightning interface through the first current limiter; the second output terminal of the AC-DC converter is connected to the second lightning interface through the second current limiter, and is connected to the input terminal of the switching circuit and the PD controller through the step-down circuit. The enable control terminal of the switching circuit is connected to the PD controller, its clock control terminal is connected to the dock management controller, and its output terminal is connected to the dock management controller and the Thunder processor. The Thunderbolt processor is connected to the first and second Thunderbolt interfaces via signal lines; the docking station management controller is connected via I... 2 The C-bus is connected to the PD controller; the PD controller is connected to the first lightning interface and the second lightning interface via an identification line.

2. The lightning hub charging station as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The input terminal of the AC-DC converter is connected to 100V~240V AC power, and the first output terminal is used to provide DC power of 20V and 4.8A, 5V and 3A, 9V and 3A, and 15V and 3A.

3. The lightning hub charging station as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first lightning protection interface has four power levels, and different power levels can be selected for power output according to the needs of the device connected to the first lightning protection interface.

4. The lightning hub charging station as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The switching circuit includes a first field-effect transistor, a second field-effect transistor, a first resistor, and a capacitor; A first resistor is connected between the gate and the source of the first field-effect transistor, and the gate of the first field-effect transistor is grounded through the capacitor. The first resistor and the capacitor constitute a first RC delay circuit. The source of the first field-effect transistor is connected to the output of the step-down circuit to receive a 3.3V DC voltage; its drain is connected to the lightning processor and the docking station management controller. The gate of the first field-effect transistor is connected to the drain of the second field-effect transistor; the gate of the second field-effect transistor is connected to the PD controller to input an enable control signal into the second field-effect transistor; the source of the second field-effect transistor is grounded.

5. The lightning hub charging station as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The first field-effect transistor is a P-channel enhancement-mode field-effect transistor, and the second field-effect transistor is an N-channel enhancement-mode field-effect transistor.

6. The lightning hub charging station as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The first field-effect transistor is controlled by whether the first lightning interface is connected to a computer. If the first lightning interface is connected to a computer, the first lightning interface sends a detection signal to the PD controller through the identification line. The PD controller sends an enable control signal to the switching circuit according to the detection signal. The switching circuit supplies power to the lightning processor and the docking station management controller according to the enable control signal.

7. The lightning hub charging station as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The detection signal is either high or low. When the detection signal is high, it indicates that a computer is connected to the first Thunderbolt interface; when the detection signal is low, it indicates that a computer is not connected to the first Thunderbolt interface.

8. The lightning hub charging station as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The switching circuit further includes a second resistor, one end of which is connected to the gate of the first field-effect transistor, and the other end of which is connected to the drain of the second field-effect transistor; the second resistor and the capacitor constitute a second RC delay circuit.

9. The lightning hub charging station as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The switching circuit further includes a third field-effect transistor and a third resistor. The drain of the third field-effect transistor is connected to the source of the first field-effect transistor through the first resistor. The gate of the third field-effect transistor is connected to the docking station management controller to input a clock control signal into the third field-effect transistor. The gate of the third field-effect transistor is grounded through the third resistor; the source of the third field-effect transistor is grounded.

10. The lightning hub charging station as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The third field-effect transistor is an N-channel enhancement-mode field-effect transistor.

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