Power supply device

Abstract

A power supply device is provided. [Solution] A power supply device (105) includes a power supply (110) and a power cable (120). The power supply is used to provide DC power. The power supply includes a temperature detection circuit (111). A first end of the power cable is used to connect to a load device (130) and includes a first cable connector (122) and a temperature sensor (124). The temperature sensor is installed in the first cable connector. The power cable is connected to the load device via the first cable connector. A second end of the power cable is used to selectively connect to the power supply. When the second end of the power cable is connected to the power supply, the temperature detection circuit is electrically coupled to the temperature sensor, and the temperature detection circuit determines whether to control the power supply to provide DC power based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to power supply technology for computer devices, and more particularly to a power supply device. [Background technology]

[0002] Electronic devices are equipped with a wide variety of power-consuming components, and the voltage values ​​required may vary greatly. Therefore, a power supply device must provide power sources that are compatible with the different power-consuming components.

[0003] In recent years, graphics cards have become a popular choice for electronic devices, boasting relatively high performance but high power consumption. High power consumption can easily lead to connector and socket meltdowns between power supplies, power cables, and graphics cards. Currently, redesigning the connector and socket structure is expected to further tighten the connection between the graphics card and cable, avoiding the drop in connection impedance and reducing or eliminating the recurrence of the aforementioned meltdowns. Research is focused on finding other ways to prevent these meltdowns. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention provides a power supply device that can reduce the probability of a power cable connector connected to a load device (e.g., a graphics card device) melting due to excessive heat. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The power supply device of the present invention is adapted to be coupled to a load device, and includes a power supply and a power cable. The power supply is used to provide DC power. The power supply includes a temperature detection circuit. The power cable is selectively coupled to the power supply. A first end of the power cable is used to couple to the load device and includes a first cable connector and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is installed in the first cable connector. The power cable is coupled to the load device via the first cable connector. A second end of the power cable is used to selectively couple to the power supply. When the second end of the power cable is coupled to the power supply, the temperature detection circuit is electrically coupled to the temperature sensor, and the temperature detection circuit determines whether to control the power supply to provide DC power based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] As described above, an embodiment of the present invention installs a temperature sensor in the connector of a power cable connected to a load device (e.g., a graphics card device), monitors whether the socket temperature of the load device is too high through the temperature detection signal returned by the temperature sensor, and controls the power supply to not provide DC power when the temperature is too high, thereby avoiding high temperatures caused by a loose connection between the socket of the load device and the power cable connector, and further reducing the probability of a meltdown accident caused by the power cable connector connected to the load device becoming too hot. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device and a power supply device according to the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic diagram of a cable socket and a temperature sensing socket on a power supply in accordance with the present invention; [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic diagram of a second cable connector in a power cable according to the present invention; [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic diagram of a first cable connector in a power cable according to the present invention; [Figure 5] 2 is a circuit diagram of a power supply, a temperature detection circuit, and a power cable according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 100 and a power supply 105 according to the present invention. The electronic device 100 may be a computing device, such as a personal computer, a server, or a laptop. The electronic device 100 includes a power supply 105 and a load device 130. The power supply 105 includes a power supply 110 and a power cable 120. The load device 130 may be, for example, a graphics card device. The load device 130 may be a motherboard or a high-power component in the electronic device.

[0009] The power supply 110 provides DC power to the load device 130 via a power cable 120 to operate the load device 130. The DC power supply in this embodiment may be 12V. The power supply 110 in this embodiment mainly includes a temperature detection circuit 111 and further includes a cable socket 112 and a temperature sensing socket 114. The power cable 120 is selectively coupled to the power supply 110. A first end of the power cable 120 includes a first cable connector 122 and a second cable connector 126. The temperature sensor 124 is installed in the first cable connector 122. For example, the temperature sensor 124 may be installed in close contact with the first cable connector 122.

[0010] A second end of the second cable connector 126 is used to couple to the power supply 110. A user can insert the second cable connector 126 of the power cable 120 into the cable socket 112 and the temperature sensing socket 114 of the power supply 110. The temperature sensing socket 114 is used to couple the temperature detection circuit 111 in the power supply 110 to the temperature sensor 124 of the first cable connector 122 and monitor the temperature of the first cable connector 122. The first cable connector 122 is used to couple to the load device 130. A user can insert the first cable connector 122 of the power cable 120 into a corresponding socket of the load device 130.

[0011] When the power cable 120 is coupled to the power supply 110, the temperature detection circuit 111 is electrically coupled to the temperature sensor 124. The temperature detection circuit 111 determines whether to control the power supply 110 to provide DC power based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor in the first cable connector 122. When the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is too high, the temperature detection circuit 111 controls the power supply 110 not to provide DC power to avoid melting the first cable connector 122.

[0012] 2 is a schematic diagram of a cable socket and a temperature sensing socket on a power supply 110 according to the present invention. The power supply 110-1 in FIG. 2 is an example of one of the power supply devices 110 in FIG. 1. The power supply 110-1 includes various sockets, including a cable socket 112-1 conforming to the 12V HPWR standard and a temperature sensing socket 114-1 for coupling to the temperature sensor 124. The 12V HPWR standard in this embodiment may be a 12V-2x6 style power cable connector or socket.

[0013] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a second cable connector in a power cable 120 according to the present invention. The second cable connector in Figure 3 is an example of one of the second cable connectors 126 in the power supply device 105 in Figure 1. The second cable connector in Figure 3 includes a first connector 126-1 that complies with the 12VHPWR standard and a second connector 126-2 for coupling to the temperature sensor 124.

[0014] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a first cable connector in a power cable according to the present invention. Figure 4 shows the appearances of two types of first cable connectors 122-1 and 122-2, which are examples of the first cable connectors 122 in the power supply device 105 shown in Figure 1. The first cable connectors 122-1 and 122-2 shown in parts (A) and (B) of Figure 4 comply with the 12VHPWR standard and also have temperature sensors 124-1 and 124-2 installed in close contact with the first cable connectors 122-1 and 122-2.

[0015] 5 is a circuit schematic diagram of a power supply 110, a temperature detection circuit 111, and a power cable 120 according to the present invention. The power supply 110 includes a temperature detection circuit 111 and a DC output control circuit 520. The DC output control circuit 520 includes an enable terminal EN. The DC output control circuit 520 selectively provides a DC power supply of 12V DC in response to an enable signal on the enable terminal EN.

[0016] The temperature detection circuit 111 mainly includes a comparator 510 and a switch circuit SWC. The temperature detection circuit 111 further includes resistors R1 to R4. The comparator 510 includes a non-inverting input terminal, an inverting input terminal, and an output terminal. The inverting input terminal receives the temperature sensing signal TSS provided by the temperature sensor 124. More specifically, one end of the resistor R1 receives the reference voltage VREF. The other end of the resistor R1 is coupled to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 510 and is coupled to one end of the temperature sensor 124 via the second connector 126-2 of the second cable connector.

[0017] The non-inverting input terminal receives a threshold voltage VTR. More specifically, the non-inverting input terminal is coupled to one end of a resistor R2 and one end of a resistor R3. The other end of the resistor R3 is coupled to a ground voltage GND and to the other end of the temperature sensor 124 via the second connector 126-2 of the second cable connector. The other end of the resistor R2 receives a reference voltage VREF. The output terminal of the comparator 510 provides a comparison signal CMP.

[0018] The switch circuit SWC can be implemented by an N-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) MN. A control terminal of the switch circuit SWC (e.g., a gate terminal of the NMOS) receives the comparison signal CMP. A first terminal of the switch circuit SWC (e.g., a source terminal of the NMOS) is coupled to an enable terminal EN of the DC output control circuit 520. A second terminal of the switch circuit SWC (e.g., a drain terminal of the NMOS) is coupled to the ground voltage GND. One end of a resistor R4 is coupled to the system voltage VCC, and the other end of the resistor R4 is coupled to the enable terminal EN of the DC output control circuit 520.

[0019] In this embodiment, the temperature sensor 124 is primarily composed of a thermistor NTCR. When the thermistor NTCR heats up, its impedance decreases. When the temperature of the first cable connector 122 is normal, the thermistor NTCR still has a sufficient impedance, so that the voltage of the temperature sensing signal TSS is greater than or equal to the threshold voltage VTR. In this situation, the comparison signal CMP provided by the output terminal of the comparator 510 is in a first level state (e.g., a low level state), disconnecting the first and second terminals of the switch circuit SWC. The enable signal on the enable terminal EN is in a second level state (e.g., a high level state) based on the resistor R4 and the system voltage VCC. When the enable signal is in a high level state, the DC output control circuit 520 provides a DC 12V power supply to the load device 130 of FIG. 1.

[0020] On the other hand, when the temperature of the first cable connector 122 is too high—for example, when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 124 is greater than or even higher than approximately 95-105°C—the impedance of the thermistor NTCR decreases, causing the voltage of the temperature sensing signal TSS to be less than the threshold voltage VTR. In this situation, the comparison signal CMP provided by the output terminal of the comparator 510 is in a second level state (e.g., a high level state), resulting in mutual conduction between the first and second terminals of the switch circuit SWC, and the enable signal on the enable terminal EN being in a first level state (e.g., a low level state) based on the ground voltage GND. When the enable signal is in a low level state, the DC output control circuit 520 does not provide the DC 12V power supply to the load device 130 of FIG. 1.

[0021] As described above, an embodiment of the present invention installs a temperature sensor in the connector of a power cable connected to a load device (e.g., a graphics card device), monitors whether the socket temperature of the load device is too high through the temperature detection signal returned by the temperature sensor, and controls the power supply to not provide DC power when the temperature is too high, thereby avoiding high temperatures caused by a loose connection between the socket of the load device and the power cable connector, and further reducing the probability of a meltdown accident caused by the power cable connector connected to the load device becoming too hot. [Industrial Applicability]

[0022] The power supply device of the present invention can be used in electronic devices such as personal computers, servers, notebook computers, or graphic card devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 100 Electronic Devices 105, 110-1 Power supply device 110 Power supply 111 Temperature detection circuit 112, 112-1 Cable socket 114, 114-1 Temperature sensing socket 120, 120-1, 120-2 power cables 122, 122-1, 122-2 1st cable connector 124, 124-1, 124-2 temperature sensors 126 Second cable connector 126-1 First connector 126-2 Second connector 130 Load device (graphics card device) 510 Comparator 520 DC output control circuit R1~R4 resistance VREF Reference voltage TSS temperature sensing signal NTCR thermistor GND Ground voltage VTR threshold voltage CMP comparison signal SWC Switch circuit MN N-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (NMOS) EN Enable terminal for DC output control circuit DC12V DC power supply VCC system voltage

Claims

1. 1. A power supply adapted for coupling to a load device, comprising: a power supply used to provide DC power, the power supply including a temperature detection circuit; a power cable having a first end adapted to be coupled to the load device, the power cable including a first cable connector and a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor being mounted on the first cable connector; the power cable is coupled to the load device via the first cable connector, and a second end of the power cable is used to selectively couple to the power supply; When the second end of the power cable is coupled to the power supply, the temperature detection circuit is electrically coupled to the temperature sensor, and the temperature detection circuit determines whether to control the power supply to provide the DC power based on a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

2. the second end of the power cable further includes a second cable connector; 2. The power supply device of claim 1, wherein the power cable is coupled to the power supply unit through the second cable connector.

3. 3. The power supply device of claim 2, wherein the second cable connector includes a first connector conforming to the 12V HPWR standard and a second connector for coupling to the temperature sensor, and the power supply further includes a cable socket and a temperature sensing socket, the first connector being connected to the cable socket and used to provide voltage to the load device, and the second connector being connected to the temperature sensing socket and used to monitor the temperature of the first cable connector.

4. 4. The power supply device according to claim 3, wherein the first connector provides the DC power source having a voltage of 12V to the load device.

5. the power supply further includes an enable terminal; 2. The power supply device of claim 1, further comprising a DC output control circuit for selectively providing said DC power source in response to an enable signal on said enable terminal.

6. The temperature detection circuit a comparator including a non-inverting input terminal, an inverting input terminal, and an output terminal, the inverting input terminal receiving a temperature sensing signal provided by the temperature sensor, the non-inverting input terminal receiving a threshold voltage, and the output terminal providing a comparison signal; a switch circuit having a control terminal for receiving the comparison signal, a first terminal coupled to the enable terminal of the DC output control circuit, and a second terminal coupled to a ground voltage; When the voltage value of the temperature sensing signal is greater than or equal to the threshold voltage, the comparison signal is in a first level state, the first terminal and the second terminal of the switch circuit are disconnected, and the enable signal on the enable terminal is in a second level state; 6. The power supply device of claim 5, wherein when the voltage value of the temperature sensing signal is smaller than the threshold voltage, the comparison signal is in the second level state, the first terminal and the second terminal of the switch circuit are mutually conductive, and the enable signal on the enable terminal is in the first level state.

7. 7. The power supply device according to claim 6, wherein the first level state is a low level state and the second level state is a high level state.

8. 8. The power supply device of claim 7, wherein the DC output control circuit does not provide the DC power when the enable signal is in the first level state, and provides the DC power when the enable signal is in the second level state.

9. 7. The power supply device according to claim 6, wherein the switch circuit is an N-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (NMOS).

10. 2. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the load device is a graphics card device.

Images