Active eMarker for USB-C Cable Power Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power safety mechanisms for USB type-C ports fail to protect against over-voltage, over-current, and over-temperature events when either the source or sink port does not support USB Power Delivery (PD), and they do not actively initiate safety measures, leaving the cable and eMarker device unprotected.
Innovation Solution
The eMarker device is equipped with an active protection module that includes an active trigger circuit and protection circuit, which can initiate a supply safety mechanism independently, using the CC communication circuit to detect and respond to abnormal events by altering the CC wire voltage, thereby ensuring safe power transmission even if one of the ports does not support USB PD.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional power safety mechanisms (alert message exchange) are used, then power safety is protected when both ports support USB PD, but the mechanism fails to work when either source or sink port does not support USB PD
Solution Approach 1:
The eMarker device autonomously monitors power transmission parameters (current, voltage, temperature) and actively initiates safety mechanisms without requiring USB PD support from connected ports. The device serves itself by detecting abnormal events and autonomously triggering protection responses through CC wire voltage alteration, eliminating dependency on port-level USB PD implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The eMarker device pre-configures protection circuits and continuously monitors power parameters before harmful events occur. When abnormal conditions are detected (over-current, over-voltage, over-temperature), the device proactively triggers safety mechanisms by altering CC wire voltage to indicate detachment, preventing damage before it occurs rather than reacting after failure.
2Device complexity
If passive eMarker response mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the cable and eMarker device remain unprotected against abnormal events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the traditional passive eMarker identification function with an active protection module into a single integrated device. The protection circuit merges monitoring of power parameters (current, voltage, temperature) with the existing CC communication functionality, allowing the eMarker to simultaneously perform cable identification and active safety protection without requiring separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The eMarker device is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional cable identification through CC wire communication and active power safety protection through parameter monitoring and abnormal event detection. The single eMarker component universally handles both identification and protection tasks, eliminating the need for separate protection devices and reducing overall system complexity while enhancing reliability.
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
An eMarker device is used in a cable (10) electrically connected between a first port (P1) and a second port (P2), wherein the cable (10) includes a configuration channel communication wire (CC). The eMarker comprises: a first eMarker (60, 70) disposed near the first port (PI) and including a first active protection module (40, 71) coupled to the configuration channel communication wire (CC), wherein the first eMarker (60, 70) is electrically connected to a first power pin (Vconnl) of the first port (PI) and a second power pin (Vconn2) of the second port (P2); and a second eMarker (60b, 70b) disposed near the second port (P2) and including a second active protection module (40b, 71b) coupled to the configuration channel communication wire (CC), wherein either of the first active protection module (40, 71) and the second active protection module (40b, 71b) changes an electric characteristic of the configuration channel communication wire (CC) to have the first port (PI) detect a disconnecting status of the second port (P2) when a specified event happens.