System and method for intelligently distributing power

Abstract

A method of intelligently allocating power to one or more devices connected to a power delivery system includes detecting an event related to power allocation between the one or more connected devices. The method further includes maximizing initial non-power delivery (non-PD) power provided to at least one of the connected devices based on an available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the at least one connected device, and the method further includes allocating power to the at least one connected device using a PD protocol.

Description

This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with the filing date of September 1, 2021, the national application number 202111022935.6, and the title “System and method for intelligent power distribution”. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 072,999, filed on September 1, 2020, entitled "AUTOMOTIVE POWER SHARING ALGORITHM FOR USB TYPE-C POWER DELIVERY PORTS," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background Art

[0002] Power delivery systems capable of providing charging power to electrical devices are ubiquitous in all physical spaces occupied by humans, including cars. The power delivery system receives input power from a power source and is used to distribute the received power to one or more ports (e.g., USB-type ports). In a typical environment, the power delivery system is connected to a power grid that is capable of providing a stable power supply. The power delivery system operates to share the power provided at the input to multiple connected loads. For example, the USB-IF provides a framework for general power sharing requirements, but these requirements cannot address some of the challenges that are presented in, for example, automotive applications, where variations in input voltage and temperature, input power limitations, and various fault conditions must be met. Additionally, the USB-IF standard does not specify a method for two devices to share power in a manner that optimizes the charging of each device. Therefore, it would be beneficial to develop a framework for handling power delivery / management in an automotive environment. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to one aspect, a method for intelligently allocating power to one or more devices connected to a power delivery system includes: detecting an event related to power allocation between one or more connected devices. The method further includes: maximizing the initial non-power delivery (non-PD) power provided to at least one of the connected devices based on an available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the at least one connected device, and the method also includes: allocating power to the at least one connected device using a PD protocol.

[0004] According to another aspect, a power delivery system includes an input port and at least a first output port, the input port being configured to receive power from a power source, wherein the first output port is configured to supply power to a connected device. The power delivery system further includes: a power delivery controller, wherein the power delivery controller maximizes an initial non-power delivery (non-PD) power provided to a device connected to the first output port during a first phase, and utilizes a power delivery (PD) protocol to increase the power provided to the device connected to the first output port during a second phase. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle charging system according to some embodiments.

[0006] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a smart power delivery system according to some embodiments.

[0007] Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating steps performed by a power delivery system, according to some embodiments.

[0008] Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating steps performed by a power delivery system to maximize initial non-PD power and PD power supplied to a connected device, according to some embodiments.

[0009] Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating steps performed by a power delivery system to provide PD power to a connected device, according to some embodiments.

[0010] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B is a graph illustrating available total shared capacity (TSC) in response to various input voltages and ambient temperatures, according to some embodiments.

[0011] Fig. 7A and Figure 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating intelligent power sharing between a first port and a second port according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] According to some aspects, an intelligent power delivery system is utilized to intelligently manage power distributed to one or more loads. The power delivery system receives input from a power source (e.g., a car battery) and is used to intelligently distribute power to one or more output ports. For the purposes of this description, the following terms are used to describe the operation of the power delivery system.

[0013] Total Shared Capacity (TSC) - the total power available for distribution by a power delivery system. As described in more detail below, TSC may vary based on factors external to the power delivery system, including the voltage of a power source connected to an input port of the power delivery system, ambient temperature, and / or the temperature of components associated with the power delivery system.

[0014] Minimum Reserve Power – A fixed value that specifies the minimum power reserved for each port. That is, when allocating power to one or more ports, power equal to the minimum reserve power is reserved to ensure that in the event that a device is connected, the minimum reserve power is available for distribution to the output ports.

[0015] Maximum Power per Port (PDP) - PDP describes the maximum output power that can be provided to a specific output port. Typically, the maximum PDP is based not only on the TSC but also on the minimum reserve power to ensure that the power delivered to a specific port does not cause the power delivery system to be unable to provide at least the minimum reserve power to the remaining output ports.

[0016] Contracted Power (CP) - describes the contracted power delivered by the power delivery system to a specific output port. The contracted power cannot exceed the maximum PDP.

[0017] Available Shared Capacity (ASC) – The shared capacity available for allocation to a particular port. The ASC changes based on changes in the TSC and changes in the CP assigned to other ports. For example, the ASC associated with a particular output port can be expressed as the TSC minus the contracted power assigned to other ports. In addition, the ASC cannot exceed the maximum PDP.

[0018] Power Delivery (PD) - The power delivery protocol is used to allow communication between the power delivery system and the connected device to negotiate power allocation.

[0019] According to some aspects, a power delivery system is used to intelligently allocate power to one or more connected devices. Specifically, according to some aspects, the power delivery system maximizes the initial non-PD power provided to the connected device during the first phase, and then increases the power provided to the connected device using the PD protocol during the second phase. Typically, a minimum reserve power is provided to the connected device, and the unused power is subsequently allocated to the newly connected device using the power delivery protocol. However, this may result in the newly connected device receiving only the minimum reserve power, which may not provide sufficient device charging / performance in some cases. According to some aspects, steps are taken in response to the connection / detachment of the new device to ensure that the initial power provided to the newly connected device is greater than a threshold (e.g., greater than the minimum reserve power). According to another aspect, the power delivery system monitors one or more external parameters that can reduce the total shared capacity (TSC) that can be allocated to one or more connected devices. For example, in automotive applications, the available power of the power source (e.g., the car battery) used to power the power delivery system may vary. The power delivery system monitors these external parameters and adjusts the TSC associated with the power delivery system based on the external parameters. Changes in TSC result in changes in available shared capacity (ASC), and therefore in changes in contract power (CP) that can be provided to the connected device. In some cases, a reduction in TSC results in a corresponding reduction or load shedding of CP provided to one or more connected devices. According to another aspect, the power delivery system monitors device charging parameters associated with the connected devices. For example, determining that the device has reached a fully charged state and / or requires less charging power indicates that the CP associated with the connected device can be lowered and made available for use by one or more other connected devices.

[0020] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle charging system according to some embodiments. The vehicle charging system includes a power delivery system 100 having an input port 102 and one or more output ports 104A, 104B. The input port 102 is configured to receive power from a vehicle battery / power source 106. The output ports 104A, 104B are connected to respective devices (e.g., loads, charging devices) 108A, 108B. The power delivery system 100 further includes a power delivery controller 110 that intelligently shares power between the output ports 104A, 104B. For simplicity, Figure 1 The illustrated embodiment shows only the first output port 104A and the second output port 104B. In other embodiments, additional output ports may be associated with the power delivery system 100. A single output port may be used, but many power sharing requirements would no longer apply.

[0021] In some embodiments, the output power provided by the vehicle battery / power supply 106 may vary in response to one or more conditions. For example, in some embodiments, the output power provided by the vehicle battery / power supply 106 varies with ambient temperature and / or battery voltage. The change in power provided by the vehicle battery / power supply 106 changes the total power—referred to as the total shared capacity (TSC)—that can be provided to the output ports 104A, 104B. In some embodiments, the power delivery controller 110 responds to changes in the total shared capacity (TSC) by reducing the contract power (CP) provided to one or both of the output ports 104A, 104B. In some embodiments, this is referred to as "load shedding."

[0022] In some embodiments, in response to a load being selectively connected to one or both of the output ports 104A, 104B, the power delivery system 100 intelligently manages changes in power sharing between the corresponding output ports 104A, 104B. For example, the USB-C charging protocol requires that a minimum reserve power (at least initially) be provided to a newly connected load or charging device 108A, 108B. Typically, the minimum reserve power provided according to the power delivery protocol (e.g., USB-IF) is less than ideal for charging purposes (e.g., 7.5W). In some embodiments, the power delivery controller 110 implements the function of maximizing the initial power contract provided to the connected load. In some embodiments, this may include modifying the power contract associated with one or more of the other output ports so as to maximize the initial power contract provided to the output port. In some embodiments, the power delivery system 100 may also provide intelligent power sharing to the output ports 104A, 104B based on changes in device charging parameters (e.g., the charging state of the device, reduced power consumption, etc.). For example, in some embodiments, a reduction in power consumption of a device connected to output port 104B may result in a reduction in the contract power (CP_P2) provided to output port 104B and a corresponding increase in the contract power (CP_P1) provided to output port 104A. As described in more detail below, power delivery controller 110 may provide additional intelligent load shedding and / or power sharing.

[0023] Figure 22 is a block diagram of a smart power delivery system 200 according to some embodiments, the smart power delivery system 200 includes a four-pin input port 202, first and second USB-C output ports 204A, 204B, a dual power delivery (PD) controller 206, first and second buck / boost converters 208A, 208B (e.g., low-side (LS), field effect transistor (FET) power converters), first and second switches 210A, 210B (e.g., high-side (HS) field effect transistors) (FETs), a battery input protection circuit 212, and a light emitting diode 214. In some embodiments, the dual PD controller 206 further includes first and second PD controllers 216, a microcontroller 218, an overvoltage (OV) protection circuit 220, a V CONN Switch 222, and V in / Temp analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 224. Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second buck / boost converters 208A, 208B include internal low-side (LS) field effect transistors (FETs) external to which are high-side (HS) field effect transistor (FET) switches 210A, 210B. In some embodiments, the internal LS FETs and external HS FETs provide good thermal performance compared to integrated converters. In other embodiments, the LS FETs and HS FETs can be implemented as a single internal buck / boost converter. Again, in Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, only the first and second USB-C output ports 204A, 204B are shown, but in other embodiments, the smart power delivery system 200 may include additional output ports.

[0024] Power from a battery or generator is provided to the smart power delivery system 200 at a four-pin input port 202. For example, in an automotive application, the power source may be 12V. The power source is distributed to the first and second buck / boost converters 208A, 208B and the dual PD controller 206 through the battery input protection circuit 212. In some embodiments, the dual PD controller 206 provides a voltage supply to the first and second buck / boost converters 208A, 208B via the CC / V CONNThe dual PD controller 206 communicates with qualified loads or sink modules (sinks) connected to the first and second USB-C output ports 204A, 204B using the D+ / D- channels. For example, the dual PD controller 206 utilizes a power delivery protocol to provide and subsequently contract the power delivered to the load / sink module, which is connected to the first and second USB-C output ports 204A, 204B. After agreeing on the delivery contract power (CP) with one or more loads, the dual PD controller 206 provides control instructions to the first and second buck / boost converters 208A, 208B (and HS FETs 210A, 210B) to provide the desired output voltage and current to the corresponding USB-C output ports 204A, 204B.

[0025] In some embodiments, the dual PD controller 206 may further include one or more PD controllers 216 (e.g., an independent PD controller for each channel or output port), a microcontroller 218, an OV protection circuit 220, a V CONN switch 222, and Vin / Temp ADC 224. In some embodiments, the PD controller 216 is used to generate control signals provided to the first and second buck / boost converters 208A, 208B to provide contract power (labeled herein as PD_OUT_1, PD_OUT_2) to the corresponding USB-C output ports 204A, 204B. In some embodiments, the microcontroller 218 executes stored instructions (e.g., stored to a computer-readable medium) to implement one or more functions related to power delivery (e.g., flexible programming of a power delivery (PD) menu for contracting power with load / receiver modules, load shedding, power sharing algorithms, etc.). In some embodiments, the Vin / Temp ADC converts analog temperature and / or monitored voltage (e.g., a source voltage provided to the four-pin input port 202) into a digital signal that can be used by the microcontroller 218. For example, as described in more detail below, the microcontroller 218 can use the monitored input voltage and / or temperature to adjust the available shared capacity (ASC) available to provide to one or more USB-C output ports 204A, 204B.

[0026] Figure 3 is a flow chart showing steps performed by a power delivery system according to some embodiments. In general, Figure 3 An event is shown that triggers the power delivery system to allocate or reallocate power among attached devices, as shown in step 312. In general, the power allocation or reallocation at step 312 acts to maximize the initial non-PD (power delivery) power provided to the connected charger / device and further maximize the PD power provided to the connected charger / device.

[0027] Typically, power allocation between attached devices occurs in response to one or more events, including but not limited to attachment / detachment of a charger / device to a power delivery system, changes in the total shared capacity (TSC) of the power delivery system, and / or changes in the available shared capacity (ASC) of the power delivery system. Figure 3 As shown, monitoring of TSC and ASC may occur continuously in the background, with detected changes in TSC or ASC resulting in power allocation between attached devices at step 312. Additionally, attachment / detachment of a charger / device to / from the power delivery system results in power being allocated between the attached devices (or remaining attached devices). In either event, the process for allocating power remains the same, as described with reference to FIG. Figure 4 Described in more detail.

[0028] like Figure 3 As shown, at step 300, the attachment or power-on of a charger attached to one of the output ports will initiate the process of allocating power between the attached devices. In some embodiments, it has been detected at step 300 that the USB charger has been attached or powered on, and then at step 312, the power delivery system allocates power between the attached devices, and in particular maximizes the initial non-PD power provided to the attached USB charger or device. In some embodiments, in response to the USB charger being connected or powered on at step 300, a determination is made at steps 302, 304, and 306 regarding the minimum power to be provided by the power delivery system. In some embodiments, the minimum power is encoded in a resistance value associated with the output port (labeled as Rp in some embodiments). In some embodiments, the minimum power determined at steps 302, 304, and 306 determines how to allocate power at step 312. In other embodiments, the power allocation at step 312 is performed independently of the minimum power value determined at step 302. Typically, the minimum power provided by the power delivery system is set to 7.5W or 15W. In some embodiments, even if the minimum value assigned by the Rp value is 7.5W, it is desirable to provide a minimum of 15W to the connected charger or device, as described below with reference to Figure 4 as described.

[0029] In addition to the attachment and / or powering up of the charging device, changes in the TSC and / or ASC of the power delivery system result in the distribution of power among the connected devices at step 312. For example, in some embodiments, at step 308, the power delivery system monitors the total shared capacity (TSC), which refers to the total power available for distribution by the power delivery system. In automotive applications, the TSC may change in response to one or more factors, including changes in vehicle battery input voltage, changes in vehicle battery input current, and / or changes in ambient temperature. In some embodiments, the intelligent power delivery system monitors one or more external parameters (such as ambient temperature, battery voltage, and / or battery current) and uses the monitored external parameters to detect changes in TSC. For example, a decrease in steady-state battery voltage (e.g., in a Fig. 6A , 6B ) corresponds to a decrease in TSC (and vice versa, an increase in the steady-state battery voltage may indicate an increase in TSC). An increase in ambient temperature corresponds to a decrease in TSC (and vice versa, a decrease in ambient temperature corresponds to an increase in TSC). As the names suggest, a decrease in TSC capacity means less power is available to share between connected chargers / devices. Likewise, an increase in TSC capacity (in response to an increase in steady-state battery voltage / current, a decrease in ambient temperature) means more power is available for connected chargers / devices. Therefore, at step 310, a determination is made as to whether a change (increase or decrease) in TSC is detected. In some embodiments, this includes comparing the monitored TSC from step 308 with the previously monitored TSC. If a change in TSC is detected at step 310, then at step 312, power is allocated between the attached chargers / devices. If no change in TSC is detected at step 310, then at step 314, events associated with a change in available shared capacity are monitored.

[0030] At step 314, events regarding changes in ASC are monitored. In some embodiments, ASC is measured for a specific output port, while TSC is measured for the entire power delivery system. However, the ASC calculated for a specific port may change (increase or decrease) in response to events occurring on other ports. For example, in some embodiments, events that may cause a change in ASC (on a specific port) include: a detected capacity mismatch between the power delivery system and a connected charger / device, a charging state associated with a connected charger / device, a change in energy consumption associated with a connected charger / device, an overcurrent condition, a device power give back (e.g., a connected charger / device provides power back to the power delivery system), a change in TSC, and / or unique actions based on the connected device and / or the power delivery system. In response to the change in ASC detected at step 316, at step 312, power is allocated between the attached chargers / devices.

[0031] At step 312, power is allocated among the attached devices. In some embodiments, the power allocation among the attached devices includes maximizing the non-PD power provided to the devices. That is, in response to the attachment / detachment of the device, the change of the TSC, and / or the change of the ASC, the initial power provided to the connected device is maximized at step 312. In some embodiments, the PD method is subsequently used to intelligently allocate power among multiple connected devices. However, maximizing the initial power provided to the connected devices can provide multiple benefits. For example, the USB-C protocol provides power on a first come, first served basis and only requires a minimum power threshold (e.g., 7.5W) (i.e., minimum reserve power) to be reserved for each unused port. Therefore, it is possible that the connected device can only draw a minimum amount of power from the power delivery system - the power delivery system may provide insufficient charging power. For non-PD devices (i.e., those devices that cannot intelligently negotiate power allocation with the power delivery system), the initial power provided may be the final power provided, so it is beneficial to maximize the initial power provided at step 312. As shown in reference Figure 4Described in more detail, maximizing the initial power provided to the connected device may include reducing the contracted power provided to one or more other devices. Although maximizing the initial power provided may include modifying the power provided to other devices, this step does not require the connected devices to use the PD (power delivery) protocol. That is, regardless of whether the connected device is capable of PD communication (e.g., USB-C protocol), the intelligent power delivery system will function to maximize the initial power provided. In some embodiments, the initial minimum power contract provided to the attached device at step 312 is provided within an initial time period (e.g., three seconds) of the event that causes step 312 to be implemented (attachment / detachment, TSC change, ASC change).

[0032] In some embodiments, after providing an initial minimum power contract to the newly connected device, step 312 further includes: intelligently allocating power between the respective output ports using the power delivery protocol. This may include: further increasing the initial power provided to the device depending on the available shared capacity (ASC) and the power requested by the connected load / receiver module. In some embodiments, the power distribution between the respective ports is also provided within an initial time period (e.g., three seconds).

[0033] Figure 4 is a more detailed illustration of a method for allocating power among attached devices to maximize initial non-PD power and PD power ( Figure 3 4. As described above, step 312 is implemented in response to the attachment / detachment of a device, a change in TSC, and / or a change in ASC. In the first stage (shown by the dashed box 400), the initial non-PD power is maximized. In the second stage (shown by the dashed box 402), the PD protocol is used to further increase the power provided to the given output port to the extent possible. In addition, in response to the power provided to the given output port, the available shared capacity of other output ports is modified in the second stage.

[0034] The order in which the output ports are analyzed may be determined based on the event that caused step 312 to be performed. For example, if a new device is connected to the first output port, then Figure 4 to maximize the initial non-PD power provided to a newly attached device (and subsequently maximize the PD power provided to that device). Similarly, a change in the ASC associated with a given output port may result in the use of a PD after the ASC change for that particular output port. Figure 4 In other embodiments, the change in TSC may result in the initial non-PD power provided to the device being maximized. Figure 4The steps shown in are applied to each of the output ports having a connected device. The order in which the output ports are analyzed may be predetermined (e.g., first output port, then second output port, etc.) or may be based on certain properties of the output ports (i.e., based on power consumption from highest to lowest, etc.).

[0035] At step 404, the available shared capacity (ASC_Pn) associated with a given output port is compared to a threshold value (e.g., a first threshold value). In some embodiments, the first threshold value represents a minimum power that is considered satisfactory to be provided to a connected device (e.g., 15W). If ASC_Pn is greater than the first threshold value - indicating that the desired minimum power is available to be provided to the given output port - then at step 406 the power delivery system commits to delivering the desired minimum threshold power to the given output port (e.g., CP_Pn) - representing the power committed to be delivered to the given output port. In some embodiments, the desired minimum threshold value is equal to the first threshold value (e.g., 15W). In this way, the power delivery system is able to provide an initial power contract to a device connected to a given output port that is greater than a possibly lower minimum power (e.g., 7.5W) reserved for the output port.

[0036] If at step 404, the available shared capacity (ASC_Pn) associated with the given output port is not greater than the first threshold, this indicates a situation where the contracted power assigned to other ports reduces the available shared capacity available to the given output port, thereby making the desired minimum power unavailable. In response, a determination is made at step 408 whether the total shared capacity (TSC) is greater than a second threshold. In some embodiments, the second threshold is greater than the first threshold, and specifically can be approximately twice the first threshold. For example, in some embodiments, if the first threshold (desired initial power) is equal to 15W, the third threshold can be set to be equal to 30W.

[0037] If it is determined at step 408 that the total shared capacity is not greater than the second threshold (e.g., less than 30W), then there is not enough power available to provide more than the minimum reserve power to the device connected to the given output port. As a result, at step 412, the power delivery system provides the minimum reserve power for the port (e.g., 7.5W) to the device connected to the given output port, and at step 416, the available shared capacity of the other output ports is updated to reflect the contract power (CP_Pn) provided to the given output port. If it is determined at step 408 that the total shared capacity is greater than the second threshold (e.g., greater than 30W), then there is enough power available to provide more than the minimum reserve power to the device connected to the given output port, even though the available shared capacity (ASC_Pn) of the given output port is less than the second threshold (e.g., 15W). However, in order to provide the contract power greater than the minimum reserve power to the device connected to the given output port, the contract power provided to one of the other output ports must be reduced. Since the total shared capacity is greater than the third threshold (e.g., 30W), the contract power (e.g., CP_Pn+1) provided to the device connected to one of the other output ports can be reduced, but still maintained above the minimum reserve power. For example, if the total shared capacity is equal to 30W and the contract power (CP_P2) provided to the second output port is equal to 22.5W, the available shared capacity (ASC_Pn) associated with the given output port (7.5W) is less than the second threshold. However, by reducing the contract power (CP_P2) provided to the second port from 22.5W to 15W, the available shared capacity (ASC_Pn) associated with the given port can also be increased to 15W. In this way, at step 410, the contract power provided to one of the other output ports is reduced (in some embodiments, by an amount equal to the minimum reserve power, or by an amount equal to the second threshold or half of the expected initial contract supply). After receiving a confirmation that the contract power associated with one of the other output ports has been reduced at step 410, the contract power (CP_Pn) of the device connected to the given output port is then assigned to the second threshold (e.g., 15W) at step 406.

[0038] In this manner, the steps shown within dashed box 400 are used to maximize the initial non-PD power provided to a device connected to one of the output ports. In most cases, the steps shown in dashed box 400 ensure that the initial non-PD power provided to the connected device is satisfactory (e.g., 15W).

[0039] The steps shown in the dashed box 402 show the steps for allocating power using the PD protocol. At step 414, after maximizing the initial non-PD power associated with a given output port, the power delivery protocol can be used to intelligently allocate power between the ports. In some embodiments, power allocation using the PD protocol requires that the device connected to the output port is PD compatible. If the device is not PD compatible, the initial power provided in the first stage (box 400) is maintained. If the device is PD compatible, the initial power provided in the first stage (box 400) can be increased using the PD protocol. In response to the initial non-PD power provided to the given output port and subsequently in response to the PD power provided to the given output port (if different), the available shared capacity associated with other ports may have changed. At step 416, the ASCs of the other output ports are updated based on the power provided to the given output port.

[0040] Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating steps performed by a vehicle charging system to provide intelligent power sharing according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the power delivery system utilizes a power delivery (PD) protocol to communicate with one or more devices / chargers connected to an output port and selectively modify the power provided to the one or more devices / chargers. In some embodiments, the PD protocol is used as a second stage (by Figure 4 402 in order to intelligently distribute power to a given output port. Figure 5 The steps shown describe one method of providing power delivery according to the present invention.

[0041] At step 504, the available shared capacity (ASC_P) for a given port is determined. As described above, the ASC_P for a given port is a function of the total shared capacity (TSC) and the contracted power (CP) currently being delivered to each of the other ports. Therefore, changes in the TSC due to changes in source voltage and / or temperature will result in changes in the ASC_P associated with a particular output port. Similarly, a device determined to be fully charged may result in a reduction in the contracted power delivered to that port. Although the total shared capacity is not changed in this case, the ASP_P associated with the other ports will increase in response to a reduction in the CP associated with the other ports.

[0042] At step 506, the source capacity is sent to the attached device. In some embodiments, the menu or message sent to the attached device includes an offer to provide the highest power delivery power (PDP) available. The message may further request a response from the device, the response providing one or more information fields, including an error detection response (e.g., CRC check), a power delivery specification menu (e.g., PD2.0 or PD3.0), PDO selection, and / or an operating current and a maximum operating current of the device.

[0043] At step 508, based on the response received from the device, a determination is made whether the attached device is a power delivery device (e.g., a PDP-capable device). For example, if no response is received within a given time limit, a determination is made that the connected device is not PD-capable. If the attached device is not PD-capable, then at step 510, the contract power is assigned a nominal value (e.g., 15W) that is less than or equal to the available shared capacity (ASC_P) of the given port. In some embodiments, the nominal value is equal to the referenced Figure 4 A first threshold is described (eg, 15 W). If the device is a PDP device, the power delivery system is able to communicate and modify the contract power.

[0044] At step 512, in response to a query from the power delivery system, the connected device provides the requested power (sometimes referred to as SINK_CAP). Depending on the power delivery specification used by the connected device, the requested power may specify a specific voltage along a continuous voltage range (e.g., 3.3V to 21V), or the requested power may specify a specific voltage from a plurality of discrete voltage values. In either case, the power delivery system receives the requested power from the connected device.

[0045] At step 514, the available shared capacity (ASC_P) determined at step 504 is compared to the requested power received from the connected device. If the ASC_P is greater than the requested power, then at step 516, the power delivery system provides the requested power to the connected device. At step 520, the power delivery system waits for the contracted power and then modifies the contracted power (CP) provided to the device. If the ASC_P is less than the requested power, then at step 518, the power delivery system provides the ASC_P to the connected device, which is less than the requested power but the maximum available power. Again, at step 520, the power delivery system waits for the contracted power and then modifies the CP provided to the device at step 522. Figure 5 The authorization step in the second phase ( Figure 4 The power provided to the device during block 402 shown in FIG. 4 is further increased to exceed the initial power provided during the first stage.

[0046] Fig. 6A and 6B is a graph showing changes in the total shared capacity (TSC) of a power delivery system in response to changes in the steady-state battery voltage provided at the input of the power delivery system and changes in the ambient temperature. The y-axis shows changes in temperature, ranging from -40°C to +80°C. The x-axis shows changes in the steady-state battery voltage, ranging from 16V (close to the y-axis) to 6V. In general, when the steady-state battery voltage decreases, the total shared capacity (TSC) decreases. Similarly, when the temperature increases, the total shared capacity (TSC) decreases. For example, given a steady-state input voltage of 16V to 11.5V and an ambient temperature of -40°C to +50°C, the total shared capacity is equal to 52.5W, which can be shared between multiple available ports in multiple configurations. Depending on the maximum power of each port and the minimum reserve power of each port, multiple combinations are possible. When the temperature increases to between +50°C and +70°C, the total shared capacity decreases to 45W. An additional increase in temperature to between +70°C and +80°C causes the total shared capacity to be further reduced to 30W. Likewise, a decrease in the steady-state battery voltage (in the positive x-direction) corresponds to a decrease in the total shared capacity.

[0047] The set point for modifying the total shared capacity (TSC) can be modified based on the application. For example, Fig. 6A The embodiment shown in shows an example where the voltage threshold for changing the total shared capacity (TSC) is set to 11.5V and 9V. Likewise, the temperature threshold is set to +50°C and +70°C (depending on the steady-state battery voltage). Figure 6B In the embodiment shown in , different thresholds and different total shared capacities (TSC) are used.

[0048] As discussed above, a change in the total shared capacity (TSC) results in a change in the available shared capacity (ASC_P) calculated for each of the plurality of ports. A decrease in the total shared capacity (TSC) results in a corresponding decrease in the available shared capacity (ASC_P) for each of the plurality of ports, and thus a renegotiation of the contract power (CP) may be required with one or more of the plurality of ports to ensure that the sum of the contract power (CP) is less than the total shared capacity (TSC).

[0049] Fig. 7A and Figure 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating intelligent power sharing between a first port and a second port according to some embodiments. In other embodiments, additional ports may be associated with the power delivery system. However, for simplicity, a simple two-port power delivery system is described. Fig. 7AThe embodiments shown assume intelligent power sharing based on a total shared capacity (TSC) of 52.5W, a maximum power delivery power (PDP) of 45W per port, and a required minimum power of 7.5W. For each port - Port 1 (P1) and Port 2 (P2) - the contract power (CP) is shown without parentheses, and the available shared capacity (ASC) is shown in parentheses.

[0050] As described above, the available shared capacity at each port is defined as follows: ASC_P1 = TSC – CP_P2 Equation 2 ASC_P2 = TSC – CP_P1 Equation 3

[0051] In addition, this practice assumes that the available shared capacity at any port is equal to or less than the maximum power delivery power (PDP) available at a given port. For example, if the maximum power delivery power at a given port is 45W, then the available shared capacity must be less than or equal to 45W, even if the total shared capacity is larger.

[0052] At Fig. 7A In the embodiment shown, at time t1, neither port is receiving power, so neither port has been assigned a contract power (CP) value. Thus, the available shared capacity at each port is equal to 45W. As described above, even though the total shared capacity in the example is 52.5W, the available shared capacity (ASC) at any port must be less than or equal to the maximum power delivery power (PDP) at a given port.

[0053] At time t2, a device is attached to the first port (P1) and is assigned a minimum power of 7.5W. As discussed above, in some embodiments, a port may be assigned a minimum power reserve (see step 404), where the first step is to determine the contract power provided to the newly connected device, including the minimum power reserved for that port. In this case, although the contract power assigned to port P1 is 7.5W, the available shared capacities ASC_P1 and ASC_P2 remain unchanged.

[0054] At time t3, the contract power provided to the first port (P1) is increased from 7.5W to 15W. As referred to Figure 4 As described, in the instant case, the available shared capacity ASC_P1 of the first port is 45W, even though Equation 3 would indicate an available shared capacity ASC_P1 of 52.5W, because ASC_P1 < PDP (e.g., 45W). As Figure 4As described at steps 408 and 410 in FIG. 1 , because the available shared capacity ASC_P1 (45W) is greater than the threshold value (e.g., 15W), the first port is assigned a contract power equal to the second threshold value (e.g., 15W). In some embodiments, this step is performed within an initial time period (e.g., three seconds) of the connected device. The available shared capacity (ASC_P1) of the first port remains at 45W, while the available shared capacity (ASC_P2) of the second port is reduced to 37.5W.

[0055] At time t4, the power delivery protocol is used to provide additional power to the device connected to port 1. In some embodiments, this step is also performed within an initial time period (e.g., three seconds) of the connected device. For example, this action would correspond to reference Figure 4 Step 420 of the description. In this embodiment, a device connected to port 1 requests 45 W of power. Given that the available shared capacity (ASC_P1) associated with the first port is equal to 45 W, the power delivery system agrees to a contract power (CP_P1) of 45 W. Since no device is connected to the second port, the available shared capacity (ASC_P1) of the first port remains at 45 W. However, since the contract power (CP_P1) provided to the first port is equal to 45 W, the available shared capacity (ASC_P2) of the second port is reduced to 7.5 W (e.g., 52.5 W (TSC) - 45 W (CP_P1)).

[0056] At time t5, a second device is attached to the second port (P2). In response, the minimum power for the second power reserve is allocated to the second port. At this time, the available shared capacity (ASC_P2) associated with the second port is equal to 7.5 W, and the contract power is also equal to 7.5 W. The contract power (CP_P1) and available shared capacity (ASC_P1) associated with the first port remain unchanged.

[0057] At time t6, Figure 4 The steps shown in are used to maximize the initial power provided to the second port. In this example, because the available shared capacity (ASC_P2) associated with the second port is less than the second threshold (e.g., 15W) (determined at steps 408 and 410), and because the total shared capacity (52.5W) is greater than the third threshold (e.g., 30W), at step 416, the contract power (CP_P1) associated with the first port is reduced - in this example from 45W to 37.5W. Due to this reduction in the contract power provided to the first port, the available shared capacity (ASC_P2) associated with the second port increases to 15W. For the current time, the contract power (CP_P2) associated with the second port remains at 7.5W.

[0058] At time t7, the increased available shared capacity (ASC_P2) associated with the second port is provided to the second port. The contract power (CP_P2) associated with the second port increases from 7.5W to 15W (corresponding to Figure 4 As a result, the available shared capacity associated with the first port (ASC_P1) is reduced from 45W to 37.5W (with respect to step 422 shown in FIG. Figure 4 424 shown in FIG. 10 ).

[0059] exist Fig. 7A In the illustrated embodiment, at time t8, the first device is disconnected from the first port. However, assuming that the first device is not disconnected from the first port (P1), at subsequent time intervals, the power delivery protocol can be utilized to intelligently balance the power distribution to the ports. For example, in response to the first connected device reaching a fully charged state, the power delivery system can utilize the power delivery protocol to reduce the contract power (CP_P1) provided to the connected device and make the saved power available to the second device. In other embodiments, a reduction in total shared capacity due to external events (reduced source voltage, increased temperature, etc.) can similarly result in intelligent balancing of the power shared between the various ports.

[0060] At time t8, the device connected to the first port (P1) is disconnected. As a result, the contract power (CP_P1) associated with the first port is reduced to zero, and the available shared capacity (ASC_P2) associated with the second port is therefore increased to 45W.

[0061] At time t9, the power delivery system negotiates with the device connected to the second port to increase the contract power. In some embodiments, this is performed within a first time period after the first device is disconnected. In this example, the available shared capacity (ASC_P2) associated with the second port is equal to 45W. The power delivery system negotiates with the second device to increase the contract power (CP_P2) provided to the connected device. In this example, the contract power (CP_P2) is equal to 30W. As a result, the available shared capacity (ASC_P1) associated with the first port is reduced to 22.5W.

[0062] At time t10, the device is again connected to the first port and is provided with a minimum reserve power of 7.5 W. This corresponds to Figure 4 The available shared capacities (ASC_P1, ASC_P2) associated with the first port and the second port, respectively, remain unchanged.

[0063] At time t11, the contract power supplied to the first port (P1) increases from 7.5W to 15W. Figure 4As described, at steps 408 and 410, the available shared capacity (ASC_P1) associated with the first port is determined to be greater than the second threshold, thereby causing the contract power (CP_P1) provided to the first device to increase from 7.5 W to 15 W ( Figure 4 In response, the available shared capacity (ASC_P2) associated with the second port is reduced from 45 W to 37.5 W, but the contract power (CP_P2) remains unchanged at 30 W. As discussed above, in some embodiments, increasing the power provided to the first port is performed within a first time period (e.g., three seconds) after the device is connected to the first port.

[0064] At time t12, the power delivery protocol is used to provide additional power to the device connected to port 1. In some embodiments, this step is also performed within an initial time period (e.g., three seconds) of the connected device. For example, this action would correspond to reference Figure 4 Step 420 of the description. In this embodiment, the device connected to port 1 requests maximum power (e.g., 45W). Given that the available shared capacity (ASC_P1) associated with the first port equals only 22.5W, the power delivery system agrees to provide the contract power (CP_P1) at the available 22.5W (instead of the requested 45W). In addition, the available shared capacity (ASC_P2) of the second port is reduced from 37.5W to 30W.

[0065] Reference Figure 7B , another scenario is provided, where the total shared capacity is equal to 52.5W, the maximum power delivery power (PDP) is set to 37.5W, and the minimum power reserve is set to 15W.

[0066] At time t1, no device is connected to either port. Therefore, neither port has a contract power (CP) value, and the available shared capacity of the two ports (ASC_P1, ASC_P2) is 37.5W. Fig. 7A Compared to the example provided in , the available shared capacity reflects a larger minimum reserve power of 15W (ASC_P1≤PDP(37.5W), so ASC_P1 is 37.5W.

[0067] At time t2, a device is attached to the first port (P1) and is provided with the minimum reserve power (15W). The available shared capacity (ASC_P2) remains unchanged because

[0068] At time t2, a device is connected to port P1. In this example, a minimum reserve power of 15W is provided to the device and becomes the contract power (CP_P1). Figure 4, providing a minimum power reserve at step 404. The contract power (CP_P1) is set to 15W, and the available shared capacity (ASC_P2) is maintained at 37.5W (ASC_P2 (37.5W) = TSC (52.5W) - CP_P1 (15W)).

[0069] At time t3, during the initial period after the first device is connected, the contract power (CP_P1) increases from 15 W to 37.5 W. In this example, because the minimum reserve power is greater than the first threshold (eg, 15 W), there is no need to perform Figure 4 In contrast, Figure 4 As shown in step 422, the contract power (CP_P1) is assigned a second threshold (eg, 15 W). The available shared capacity (ASC_P2) associated with the second port is changed to 15 W (ASC_P2 (15 W) = TSC (52.5 W) - CP_P1 (37.5 W)).

[0070] At time t4, the device is connected to the second port (P2) and is provided with the minimum reserve power (15W). The contract power (CP_P1) and available shared capacity (ASC_P1) associated with the first port remain unchanged. Again, because the minimum reserve power (15W) is greater than the first threshold (at step 406), the contract power (CP_P1) is set to 15W.

[0071] At time t5, the device attached to the first port (P1) detaches. Therefore, the contract power (CP_P1) is set to zero, and the available shared capacity (ASC_P2) associated with the second port increases to 37.5W. Figure 7B In the example provided in , at time t6, the device connected to the first port detaches. However, if the device is not disconnected, additional intelligent power sharing can be provided in the time after time t5. For example, in some embodiments, in response to the device connected to the first port reaching a fully charged state, power can be allocated from the first port to the second port.

[0072] At time t6, the power delivery system provides additional power to the device connected to the second port (P2) using the power delivery protocol. In some embodiments, this is provided within a first time period after the device is detached from the first port (P1). In some embodiments, this will be Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, step 420 is performed. Figure 4In the example shown, the device connected to the second port (P2) requests 30 W. Since the requested power (30 W) is less than the available shared capacity associated with the second port (ASC_P2, 37.5 W), the power delivery system commits to delivering 30 W to the device connected to the second port. The available shared capacity associated with the first port (ASC_P1) is reduced to 22.5 W.

[0073] At time t7, the device is connected to the first port (P1) and is provided with the minimum reserve power (15 W). As discussed above, because the minimum reserve power is greater than the first threshold (15 W), the contract power (15 W) provided at step 404 is considered sufficient as the initial power supply and no analysis is provided under steps 408-412.

[0074] At time t8, the power delivery system provides additional power to the device connected to the first port (P1) using the power delivery protocol. In this example, the device connected to the first port can request 37.5W (as requested at time t3). However, since the available shared capacity (ASC_P1) associated with the first port is 22.5W, the request for 37.5W is denied and the contracted power of 22.5W is provided instead. In addition, the available shared capacity (ASC_P2) associated with the second port is reduced to 30W.

[0075] Although the present invention has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and elements thereof may be substituted with equivalents without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt specific circumstances or materials to the teachings of the present invention without departing from the essential scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to one or more specific embodiments disclosed, but the present invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Discussion of Possible Implementations

[0076] The following is a non-exclusive description of possible embodiments of the invention.

[0077] According to one aspect, a method for intelligently allocating power to one or more devices connected to a power delivery system includes: detecting an event related to power allocation between one or more connected devices. The method further includes: maximizing the initial non-power delivery (non-PD) power provided to at least one of the connected devices based on an available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the at least one connected device, and the method also includes: allocating power to the at least one connected device using a PD protocol.

[0078] The method of the preceding paragraph may optionally include (additionally and / or alternatively) any one or more of the following features, configurations and / or additional components.

[0079] For example, the step of detecting an event related to power distribution between one or more connected devices may include detecting attachment / detachment of a device to / from the power delivery system.

[0080] In some embodiments, detecting an event related to power distribution between one or more connected devices may include detecting a change in a total shared capacity (TSC) of the power delivery system.

[0081] In some embodiments, detecting a change in the total shared capacity (TSC) of the power delivery system may include monitoring one or more of: ambient temperature, a steady state voltage provided to the power delivery system, and a steady state current provided to the power delivery system.

[0082] In some embodiments, detecting an event related to power distribution between the one or more connected devices may include detecting a change in available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the one or more connected devices.

[0083] In some embodiments, the step of detecting a change in the ASC associated with one or more connected devices may include detecting a capacity mismatch between the power delivery system and the one or more connected devices, a charging state associated with one or more of the connected devices, a change in power consumption associated with one or more of the connected devices, an overcurrent condition, power reflux associated with one or more of the connected devices, and a change in the total shared capacity (TSC).

[0084] In some embodiments, maximizing an initial non-power delivery (non-PD) power provided to at least one of the connected devices based on an available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the at least one connected device may include comparing the available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the at least one connected device with a first threshold, wherein if the ASC is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the power delivery system provides a desired minimum power to the at least one connected device, wherein the desired minimum power is greater than the minimum reserve power.

[0085] In some embodiments, the desired minimum power may be equal to or greater than 15W, and wherein the minimum reserve power may be less than 15W.

[0086] In some embodiments, if the ASC is less than a first threshold, the total shared capacity (TSC) of the power delivery system can be compared to a second threshold, wherein if the TSC is greater than or equal to the second threshold, the contract power is reduced with respect to one or more other connected devices, and the power delivery system provides the desired minimum threshold power to at least one connected device.

[0087] In some embodiments, the second threshold may be greater than the first threshold.

[0088] In some embodiments, if the TSC is less than a second threshold, the power delivery system may provide a minimum reserve power to the at least one connected device, wherein the minimum reserve power is less than a desired minimum threshold power.

[0089] In some embodiments, allocating power to at least one connected device using a PD protocol can be performed after a step of maximizing an initial non-power delivery (non-PD) power provided to at least one of the connected devices, wherein allocating power to at least one connected device using the PD protocol allows a contract power greater than a desired minimum threshold power to be provided to at least one of the connected devices.

[0090] According to another aspect, a power delivery system includes an input port and at least a first output port, the input port being configured to receive power from a power source, wherein the first output port is configured to supply power to a connected device. The power delivery system further includes: a power delivery controller, wherein the power delivery controller maximizes an initial non-power delivery (non-PD) power provided to a device connected to the first output port during a first phase, and utilizes a power delivery (PD) protocol to increase the power provided to the device connected to the first output port during a second phase.

[0091] The power delivery system of the preceding paragraph may optionally include (additionally and / or alternatively) any one or more of the following features, configurations and / or additional components.

[0092] In some embodiments, the power delivery controller may initiate the first phase in response to at least one of: detected attachment / detachment of a device to the first and second output ports, a detected change in the total shared capacity (TSC) available for power distribution to the first output port, and a detected change in the available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the first output port.

[0093] In some embodiments, the power delivery controller may calculate the TSC based on one or more of: a monitored ambient temperature, a steady-state voltage provided to the input port, and a steady-state current provided to the input port.

[0094] In some embodiments, during a first stage, the power delivery controller may compare an available shared capacity (ASC) associated with a first output port to a first threshold, wherein if the ASC associated with the first output port is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the power delivery controller provides a desired minimum power to a device connected to the first output port.

[0095] In some embodiments, if the ASC associated with the first output port is less than a first threshold, the power delivery controller may compare the total shared capacity (TSC) of the power delivery system with a second threshold, wherein if the TSC is greater than or equal to the second threshold, the power delivery controller reduces the power provided to the device connected to the second output port and provides the desired minimum power to the device connected to the first output port.

[0096] In some embodiments, if the TSC is less than the second threshold, the power delivery controller may provide a minimum reserve power to the device connected to the first output port, wherein the minimum reserve power is less than the desired minimum power.

[0097] In some embodiments, a power delivery (PD) protocol used during the second phase allows a power delivery controller to increase a contracted power provided to a device connected to the first output port, where the increased power may be greater than a desired minimum threshold power provided during the first phase.

[0098] In some embodiments, the power delivery system may be a vehicle power delivery system connected to receive input power from a vehicle battery.

Claims

1. A method of distributing power to one or more output ports connected to a power delivery system, the method comprising: monitoring a total shared capacity (TSC) of the power delivery system; Detecting an event related to power distribution between the one or more output ports comprises: detecting a change in the total shared capacity (TSC) of the power delivery system; during a first phase, maximizing initial power delivery to the one or more output ports without using a power delivery protocol, the power delivery protocol including power request communications between the one or more output ports and the power delivery system; and During a second phase, power is allocated to the one or more output ports using the power delivery protocol.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The event related to the power distribution between the one or more output ports is a detected decrease in the total shared capacity (TSC).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that During the first phase, maximizing the initial power delivery to the one or more output ports without using a power delivery protocol includes comparing the total shared capacity (TSC) associated with at least one output port to a second threshold.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that During the first phase, maximizing the initial power delivery to the one or more output ports without using a power delivery protocol includes reducing a maximum power output to one or more other output ports in response to the total shared capacity (TSC) being greater than the second threshold.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that During the first phase, maximizing the initial power delivery to the one or more output ports without using a power delivery protocol includes allocating a minimum power output to one or more other output ports.

6. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that During the first phase, maximizing the initial power delivery to the one or more output ports without using a power delivery protocol includes allocating a minimum contracted power to one or more other output ports in response to the total shared capacity (TSC) being less than the second threshold.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Monitoring the total shared capacity (TSC) of the power delivery system includes: monitoring one or more of ambient temperature, a steady-state voltage provided to the power delivery system, and a steady-state current provided to the power delivery system, and wherein detecting the change in the total shared capacity (TSC) of the power delivery system includes: comparing the monitored total shared capacity (TSC) with a previously monitored total shared capacity (TSC).

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Detecting the event related to the power allocation between the one or more output ports includes: detecting a change in an available shared capacity (ASC) of the one or more output ports, wherein, during the first stage, maximizing the initial power delivery to the one or more output ports without using a power delivery protocol includes: comparing the available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the one or more output ports with a first threshold.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The total shared capacity (TSC) is measured for the power delivery system as a whole, and wherein the available shared capacity (ASC) is measured for a specific output port within the power delivery system.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The power delivery system provides a desired minimum power to at least one output port if the available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the at least one output port is greater than or equal to the first threshold, wherein the desired minimum power is greater than a minimum reserve power.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that During the first phase, maximizing the initial power delivery to the one or more output ports without using a power delivery protocol includes: comparing the total shared capacity (TSC) associated with the at least one output port to a second threshold; In response to the total shared capacity (TSC) being greater than the second threshold, reducing the maximum power output to one or more other output ports; and A minimum power output is assigned to the one or more other output ports.

12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Detecting the event related to the power distribution between the one or more connected devices comprises: Detecting device attachment / detachment from the power delivery system.

13. A power delivery system, the power delivery system comprising: an input port configured to receive power from a power source; a first output port configured to supply power to a connected device; as well as a power delivery controller, wherein the power delivery controller maximizes an initial power delivery to the connected device without using a power delivery protocol, the power delivery protocol comprising power request communications between the connected device and the power delivery controller, wherein the initial power delivery is provided to the connected device connected to the first output port during a first phase, and wherein the power delivery controller utilizes the power delivery protocol to increase the power delivery provided to the connected device connected to the first output port during a second phase, Wherein maximizing the initial power delivery includes comparing a total shared capacity (TSC) of the power delivery system to a second threshold.

14. The power delivery system of claim 13, wherein: The power delivery controller initiates the first phase in response to one or more of the following conditions: detected attachment / detachment of a device to / from said first output port, a detected change in the total shared capacity (TSC) available for distribution of power to the first output port, and / or A detected change in available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the first output port.

15. The power delivery system of claim 14, wherein: The power delivery controller calculates the total shared capacity (TSC) based on one or more of: a monitored ambient temperature, a steady-state voltage provided to the input port, and a steady-state current provided to the input port.

16. The power delivery system of claim 15, wherein: During the first stage, the power delivery controller compares the available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the first output port with a first threshold, wherein if the available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the first output port is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the power delivery controller provides the desired minimum power to the device connected to the first output port.

17. The power delivery system of claim 13, wherein: If the total shared capacity (TSC) is greater than or equal to the second threshold, the power delivery controller reduces the power provided to the device connected to the second output port and provides the desired minimum power to the device connected to the first output port, and if the total shared capacity (TSC) is less than the second threshold, the power delivery controller provides the minimum reserve power to the device connected to the first output port, wherein the minimum reserve power is less than the desired minimum power.

18. A method of distributing power to one or more devices connected to a power delivery system, the method comprising: monitoring an available shared capacity (ASC) of the power delivery system; monitoring a total shared capacity (TSC) of the power delivery system; detecting a change in said available shared capacity (ASC) associated with one or more connected devices; comparing the available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the output port to a first threshold; In response to the available shared capacity (ASC) being less than the first threshold, comparing the total shared capacity (TSC) associated with at least one connected device to a second threshold; as well as In response to the total shared capacity (TSC) being greater than the second threshold, the maximum power of one or more other output ports is reduced.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: In response to the total shared capacity (TSC) being less than the second threshold, a minimum contract power is allocated to one or more other output ports.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: Detecting the change in the available shared capacity (ASC) associated with the one or more connected devices comprises one or more of: a detected capacity mismatch between the power delivery system and the one or more connected devices, a charging state associated with one or more of the connected devices, a change in energy consumption associated with one or more of the connected devices, an overcurrent condition, power backflow associated with one or more of the connected devices, and / or the change in the total shared capacity (TSC).

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