Power supply system capable of supplying / blocking power, electronic device, and operating method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a power supply system capable of removing unnecessary standby power consumption of an electronic device and supplying power only when necessary, an electronic device thereof, and an operating method thereof. The power supply system is connected to an energy source and is connected to the electronic device by means of a power switch. A control unit of the power supply system closes the power switch through a switch control signal to supply power to the electronic device when a specific condition under which the power can be supplied is satisfied, and opens the power switch to block the power supply to the electronic device when a power block request is received from the electronic device through an on / off control signal.

Description

Power supply system capable of supplying / cutting off power, electronic device, and method of operation thereof

[0001] The present invention relates to an efficient power supply / cutoff technology between a power supply system and an electronic device. Specifically, the present invention relates to a power supply system capable of eliminating unnecessary standby power consumption of an electronic device and performing power supply only when necessary, an electronic device, and a method of operation thereof.

[0002] As various electronic devices, such as mobile devices and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, are widely used, low-power driving technology that efficiently utilizes the power of each device is becoming increasingly important. It is common for these devices to be equipped with their own batteries to accommodate environments where wired power supply is difficult or to enhance user convenience. Furthermore, self-powered IoT devices are emerging that charge batteries or enable power-free operation through energy harvesting technology utilizing ambient energy sources.

[0003] These electronic devices are limited in their operating time due to the finite power supply of energy storage, such as batteries. To ensure low-power operation, typical electronic devices maintain a standby mode that consumes low standby current when idle, switch to operating mode when required to perform tasks, and then return to standby mode after operation.

[0004] However, since electronic devices consume little current even in standby mode, technology is required to completely cut off this standby current and maintain it at zero.

[0005] [Prior Art Literature]

[0006] [Patent Literature]

[0007] Korean Patent Publication No. 2023-0001892 (Published January 5, 2023)

[0008] The objective of the present invention is to provide an efficient power supply / cutoff system for an electronic device and to drive the electronic device efficiently within a finite power limit.

[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to reduce the standby current of an electronic device to zero by switching the power supply / cutoff to the electronic device.

[0010] The present invention provides a power supply system. The power supply system is connected to an energy source and an electronic device. The power supply system includes an energy converter, an energy storage unit, a power converter, a power switch, and a control unit. The energy converter is connected to the energy source and receives electrical energy from the energy source or collects ambient energy and converts it into electrical energy. The energy storage unit receives and stores the electrical energy from the energy converter. The power converter converts the electrical energy transmitted from the energy converter or the energy storage unit into operating power of a voltage required by the electronic device and supplies it to the electronic device. The power switch is located in a path between the power converter and the electronic device. The control unit controls the operation of the energy converter and the power converter, transmits a switch control signal to the power switch to switch the power switch for power supply / cutoff, and receives an on / off control signal from the electronic device. In addition, when a specific condition for power supply is met, the control unit closes the power switch via the switch control signal to supply power to the electronic device, and when it receives a request to cut off power from the electronic device via the on / off control signal, it opens the power switch to cut off power supply to the electronic device.

[0011] In the above power supply system, the energy source may be a conventional wired or wireless power source or an ambient energy source of an energy harvesting system.

[0012] In the above power supply system, the specific conditions under which power supply is possible may include cases where the voltage of the energy storage unit is above a specific value or where a predetermined time has elapsed after the power supply is cut off.

[0013] In the above power supply system, the control unit can recognize that it has received a power cutoff request when it detects a high state through edge detection of the on / off control signal received from the electronic device.

[0014] In addition, the present invention provides an electronic device connected to a power supply system. The electronic device receives power from the power supply system to perform an operation, and after the operation is completed, transmits a power cutoff request to the power supply system to reduce standby current.

[0015] In addition, the present invention provides a method of operation for a power supply system connected to a load through a power switch. The method of operation comprises: a first step of opening the power switch and cutting off power supply to the load; a second step of closing the power switch via a switch control signal and supplying power to the load when specific conditions for power supply are met; a third step of receiving a request to cut off power from the load via an on / off control signal; and a fourth step of opening the power switch via the switch control signal and cutting off power supply to the load.

[0016] In the method of operation of the above power supply system, the specific conditions under which power supply is possible may include cases where the voltage of the electrical energy stored in the power supply system is greater than or equal to a specific value, or cases where a predetermined time has elapsed after the power supply is cut off.

[0017] In the method of operation of the above power supply system, the power supply system can recognize that it has received the power cutoff request when it detects a high state through edge detection of the on / off control signal received from the load.

[0018] The present invention can increase the operating time of an electronic device based on efficient power supply / cutoff.

[0019] In addition, the present invention can improve efficient power usage and power usage efficiency by making the standby current of an electronic device zero.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a power supply system capable of power supply / cutoff and an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIGS. 2 to 4 are block diagrams showing a series of power supply / cutoff states between the power supply system and the electronic device illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 5 is an on / off control signal timing diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0024] In describing the embodiments, technical details that are well known in the technical field to which the present invention belongs and are not directly related to the present invention are omitted. This is intended to convey the essence of the present invention more clearly without obscuring it by omitting unnecessary explanations.

[0025] Identical components in the drawings are assigned the same reference number. Meanwhile, singular or plural representations of components are appropriately selected according to the given context for convenience of explanation, and the present invention is not limited to singular or plural forms. Even a component expressed in a singular form may be interpreted as a plural component, and vice versa.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a power supply system capable of power supply / cutoff and an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, a power supply system (20) is connected to an energy source (10) and an electronic device (30). The energy source (10) may be a conventional wired or wireless power source, or in the case of an energy harvesting system, an ambient energy source. The ambient energy source is, for example, RF (Radio Frequency), light, piezoelectric, rotational torque, TEG (ThermoElectric Generator), EM (ElectroMagnetic), etc., but is not limited thereto. An electronic device (30) refers to a load that consumes power while actually operating. The power supply system (20) collects energy from the energy source (10), converts / stores it, supplies power to the electronic device (30), or cuts off the power supply to the electronic device (30).

[0028] The power supply system (20) is configured to include an energy conversion unit (21), an energy storage unit (22), a power conversion unit (23), a power switch (24), and a control unit (25).

[0029] The energy conversion unit (21) is connected to the energy source (10) and receives electrical energy from the energy source (10) or collects ambient energy and converts it into electrical energy. The energy conversion unit (21) stores the input or converted electrical energy in the energy storage unit (22) or supplies it as input power to the power conversion unit (23).

[0030] The energy storage unit (22) is an energy storage unit composed of a battery, a supercapacitor, etc., receives and stores electrical energy from the energy conversion unit (21), and supplies the stored electrical energy to the energy conversion unit (23).

[0031] The power conversion unit (23) converts electrical energy transmitted from the energy conversion unit (21) or the energy storage unit (22) into operating power of a voltage required by the electronic device (30). The power conversion unit (23) is connected to the electronic device (30) and supplies the converted operating power to the electronic device (30).

[0032] The power switch (24) is located in the path between the power converter (23) and the electronic device (30) and is switched to open or close according to the control of the control unit (25) described later.

[0033] The control unit (25) controls the operation of the energy conversion unit (21) and the power conversion unit (23), and transmits a switch control signal (Switch CTR) to the power switch (24) to switch the power switch (24) for power supply / cutoff. Additionally, the control unit (25) receives an on / off control signal (On / Off CTR) from the electronic device (30). Furthermore, the control unit (25) forms an input / output data interface with the electronic device (30).

[0034] Meanwhile, FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment in which power supply / cutoff is switched through a power switch (24), but in other embodiments, power supply / cutoff switching may be performed through a ground switch instead of a power switch (24).

[0035] Hereinafter, a series of power supply / cutoff states between a power supply system and an electronic device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIGS. 2 to 4 are block diagrams showing a series of power supply / cutoff states between a power supply system and an electronic device as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0036] First, FIG. 1 shows a first state as an initial state. In the first state, the power switch (24) is open, and accordingly, the power supply from the power supply system (20) to the load (30) is cut off. Also, the on / off control signal received by the power supply system (20) from the load (30) is in a low state.

[0037] Next, FIG. 2 shows a second state. The second state is a state in which power is supplied to the load (30). When a specific condition for power supply is met in the power supply system (20) in the first state described above, the control unit (25) in the second state closes the power switch (24) via a switch control signal. Accordingly, the power supply system (20) supplies power to the load (30). At this time, the on / off control signal received by the power supply system (20) from the load (30) is still in a low state. Meanwhile, the specific condition for power supply may be when the voltage of the energy storage unit (22) is above a specific value, or when a predetermined time has elapsed after the power supply is cut off.

[0038] Next, FIG. 3 shows a third state. The third state is a state in which a power cutoff request is received from the load (30). In the aforementioned second state, the load (30), having received power from the power supply system (20), performs a predetermined operation. When the operation is completed, the load (30) may request the power supply system (20) to cut off power in order to reduce standby current. That is, in the third state, the power supply system (20) receives an on / off control signal from the load (30) and detects a High state through edge detection of the on / off control signal. At this time, edge detection means detecting the rising edge or falling edge of the on / off control signal.

[0039] Next, FIG. 4 shows a fourth state. The fourth state is a state in which power supply to the load (30) is cut off. When a high state of the on / off control signal is detected in the aforementioned third state, the power supply system (20) opens the power switch (24) through the switch control signal in the fourth state. Accordingly, the power supply system (20) cuts off power supply to the load (30). At this time, since power is cut off, the on / off control signal becomes low. That is, it returns to the same state as the aforementioned first state.

[0040] Subsequently, as described above through FIG. 2, when a specific condition is met that allows power supply in the power supply system (20), the control unit (25) closes the power switch (24) via a switch control signal, and accordingly, the power supply system (20) supplies power to the load (30). That is, it returns to the second state.

[0041] Meanwhile, FIG. 5 is an on / off control signal timing diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 5, reference numeral 51 indicates the point in time when the power supply system (20) begins to supply power to the load (30) in the aforementioned second state, and reference numeral 52 indicates the point in time when the load (30) requests power cutoff from the power supply system (20) in the aforementioned third state. Accordingly, reference numeral 54 indicates the time from when the load (30) receives power until it requests power cutoff. Additionally, reference numeral 53 indicates the point in time when the power supply system (20), having detected a high state of the on / off control signal in the aforementioned third state, cuts off power supply to the load (30) in the fourth state. And reference numeral 55 indicates the time from when the power supply system (20) cuts off power supply until it resumes power supply under specific conditions.

[0043] The embodiments of the invention disclosed in this specification and drawings are provided merely as specific examples to facilitate the explanation of the technical content of the invention and to aid in understanding the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that other variations based on the technical concept of the invention are possible in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0044]

[0045] The present invention proceeds with the filing of an application in support of the problem described below.

[0046] - Project ID: 2710008735

[0047] - Project Number: 2021-0-00360

[0048] - Ministry Name: Ministry of Science and ICT

[0049] - Project Management (Specialized) Agency Name: Korea Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation

[0050] - Research Project Name: Development of Core Technologies for the SW Computing Industry

[0051] - Research Project Title: Development of Core Software Technology for Autonomous Energy-Based Computing Systems Tolerant of Power Instability

[0052] - Project Executing Organization Name: Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute

[0053] - Research Period: April 1, 2021 – December 31, 2024

[0054]

[0055] [Explanation of the symbol]

[0056] 10: Energy Sources

[0057] 20: Power supply system

[0058] 21: Energy conversion unit

[0059] 22: Energy storage unit

[0060] 23: Power converter

[0061] 24: Power Switch

[0062] 25: Control unit

[0063] 30: Electronic device

Claims

1. In a power supply system connected to an energy source and an electronic device, An energy conversion unit connected to the above energy source, which receives electrical energy from the energy source or collects ambient energy and converts it into electrical energy; An energy storage unit that receives and stores the electrical energy from the energy conversion unit; A power conversion unit that converts the electrical energy transmitted from the energy conversion unit or the energy storage unit into operating power of a voltage required by the electronic device and supplies it to the electronic device; A power switch located in the path between the power converter and the electronic device; and A control unit that controls the operation of the energy conversion unit and the power conversion unit, transmits a switch control signal to the power switch for switching the power switch for power supply / cutoff, and receives an on / off control signal from the electronic device; Includes, The control unit supplies power to the electronic device by closing the power switch through the switch control signal when specific conditions for power supply are met, and The control unit, upon receiving a power cutoff request from the electronic device via the on / off control signal, opens the power switch to cut off the power supply to the electronic device. A power supply system characterized by the following.

2. In Paragraph 1, A power supply system characterized in that the above energy source is a conventional wired or wireless power source or an ambient energy source of an energy harvesting system.

3. In Paragraph 1, A power supply system characterized by the fact that the specific conditions under which the above power supply is possible include cases where the voltage of the energy storage unit is above a specific value or cases where a predetermined time has elapsed after the power supply is cut off.

4. In Paragraph 1, A power supply system characterized by the above-described control unit recognizing that it has received a power cutoff request when it detects a high state through edge detection of the on / off control signal received from the electronic device.

5. In an electronic device connected to a power supply system, It receives power from the above power supply system and performs operation, and An electronic device characterized by transmitting a power cutoff request to the power supply system to reduce standby current after the completion of the above operation.

6. A method of operation of a power supply system connected to a load through a power switch, A first step in which the power switch is open and the power supply to the load is cut off; A second step of closing the power switch via a switch control signal and supplying power to the load when specific conditions for power supply are met; A third step of receiving a power cutoff request from the above load via an on / off control signal; and A fourth step of opening the power switch through the above switch control signal and cutting off the power supply to the load; A method of operation of a power supply system characterized by including 7. In Paragraph 6, A method of operation of a power supply system characterized by the fact that the specific conditions under which power supply is possible include cases where the voltage of electrical energy stored in the power supply system is greater than or equal to a specific value or cases where a predetermined time has elapsed after power supply is cut off.

8. In Paragraph 6, A method of operation of a power supply system characterized by recognizing that a power cutoff request has been received when the power supply system detects a high state through edge detection of the on / off control signal received from the load.

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