HDMI Source Power Circuit Inversion for Sink Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
HDMI specifications limit power feeding to external source equipment, requiring a large-scale power circuit, which is costly and bulky, and prevent Hot Plug Detect if the external equipment lacks a power circuit.
Innovation Solution
A transmitting apparatus that requests power feed from a receiving apparatus over an HDMI cable, using a signal transmitting unit, an information transmitting unit, and a power supply switching unit to simplify the power circuit by feeding power from the receiving apparatus, allowing the external equipment to operate without an internal power circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If power feed is limited according to HDMI specifications, then the power circuit becomes large-scale and costly, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional power feed direction by enabling the sink equipment (display device) to feed power back to the source equipment (external device) through the HDMI cable, instead of only the source feeding power to the sink. This allows external devices to operate without internal power circuits by receiving power from the display device.
Solution Approach 2:
The sink equipment provides power feed service to the source equipment, allowing external devices to serve themselves with power from the display device's power supply, eliminating the need for separate AC adaptors or internal power circuits in the external devices.
2Device complexity
If external equipment lacks a power circuit, then the device size and cost decrease, but Hot Plug Detect functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The HDMI cable's power feed line is made multi-functional by using it for both traditional power feed from source to sink and the new reverse power feed from sink to source. This enables the cable to carry power in both directions, supporting both conventional and inverted power feed modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The power feed direction is made dynamic and switchable between conventional mode (source to sink) and inverted mode (sink to source), allowing the system to adapt power flow based on the connected devices' capabilities and requirements.
3Power
If power is fed from transmitting apparatus to receiving apparatus, then the receiving apparatus can operate, but the transmitting apparatus requires a large-scale power circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional power feed direction by enabling the sink equipment (display device) to feed power back to the source equipment (external device) through the HDMI cable, instead of only the source feeding power to the sink. This allows external devices to operate without internal power circuits by receiving power from the display device.
Data Source
AI summary
To simplify a power circuit of a transmitting apparatus (source equipment) connected to a receiving apparatus (sink equipment).Sink equipment 120 has a satisfactory power circuit 126. Initially, power is fed from source equipment 110 to the sink equipment 120. When the source equipment 110 intends to receive feed of power from the sink equipment 120, the source equipment 110 transmits request information on power feed to the sink equipment 120. The transmission is carried out using a reserved line, a power feed line, or a CEC line of a cable 130, or a high-speed bidirectional communication means. If the sink equipment 120 receives the request information on power feed, the sink equipment 120 feeds power fed the power circuit 126 to the source equipment 110. When the request information to be transmitted from the source equipment 110 to the sink equipment 120 contains pieces of information on a requested voltage value and current value, the source equipment 110 receives feed of power of the necessary voltage value and current value from the sink equipment 120.