Capacitive Charger Detachment Detection via Configuration Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive power converters in battery charging systems fail to accurately detect detachment of the power source, leading to potential dangerous conditions as the battery continues to deplete energy when the cable is detached, as the voltage does not fall sufficiently to trigger detection, causing back-boosting and reverse energy transfer.
Innovation Solution
A charging system that includes a capacitive power converter, a controller, and a configuration channel detector to monitor the status of the configuration channel, allowing for detection of detachment by absence of configuration channel data, and triggering a special mode to prevent back-boosting, such as frequency modulation, pulse skipping, or pulsed current to ground, ensuring safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If voltage monitoring is used to detect cable detachment, then detection is simple and direct, but capacitive power converters cause voltage back-boosting that prevents accurate detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a configuration channel as an intermediary detection path. Instead of directly monitoring the power transmission channel voltage (which is distorted by back-boosting), the system uses the configuration channel to detect cable detachment. This intermediary channel provides accurate detachment detection without being affected by the capacitive power converter's voltage back-boosting behavior.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the capacitive power converter continues switching after cable detachment, then energy storage elements are maintained, but the battery depletes and dangerous electrical conditions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller continuously monitors the configuration channel status and adjusts the capacitive power converter's switching operation accordingly. When cable detachment is detected through the configuration channel, the controller receives feedback and immediately halts switching operations, preventing battery depletion and dangerous electrical conditions while maintaining energy storage element stability during normal operation.
3Device complexity
If traditional voltage threshold detection is used, then the system is simple to implement, but it fails to detect detachment when back-boosting occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection function into two independent parts: the power transmission channel for normal power delivery and the configuration channel for detachment detection. This segmentation allows each channel to perform its specialized function without interference - the power channel handles energy transfer while the configuration channel provides reliable detachment detection, avoiding the need for complex voltage threshold analysis during back-boosting conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A wired connection, such as USB-C, for charging a sink from a source, has a configuration channel and a power transmission channel. The presence of data on the configuration channel is used to determine that a cable has been disconnected from the power source. This charging system contains a capacitive power converter and a controller for controlling the capacitive power converter. There is also a configuration channel detector, which is arranged to detect the status of the configuration channel and to provide this status to the controller, so that the system can determine that the source has been detached from the bus when no configuration channel data is present.