Overvoltage Protection Circuit for Type-C Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of Type-C connectors poses challenges in distinguishing source and sink functions, leading to potential overvoltage issues and increased manufacturing costs due to the need for high-voltage transistors, which can result in characteristic deterioration and destruction of internal elements.
Innovation Solution
An overvoltage protection circuit is designed with a current output circuit and a gate input circuit, utilizing transistors with a voltage rating of 3.3V or lower, and an input control circuit that adjusts gate voltages to protect against overvoltage, allowing normal operation within guaranteed voltage ranges without the need for high-voltage transistors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-voltage transistors are used to handle overvoltage in Type-C connectors, then overvoltage protection capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and transistor characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter of transistors from high-voltage (5V or higher) to low-voltage (3.3V or lower) by introducing an overvoltage protection circuit. This circuit includes a protection transistor configured to activate when overvoltage occurs, thereby protecting the main transistor from damage. The parameter change allows using cheaper, lower-voltage transistors while maintaining overvoltage protection capability through the protection circuit mechanism.
2Reliability
If high-voltage transistors are used to handle overvoltage, then overvoltage protection capability is improved, but transistor characteristics deteriorate and destruction occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protection transistor as an intermediary element between the power supply and the main transistor. This protection transistor acts as a mediator that absorbs or redirects overvoltage before it reaches the main transistor, thereby protecting the main transistor's characteristics from deterioration or destruction while maintaining normal operation within guaranteed voltage ranges.
3Adaptability or versatility
If Type-C connector compatibility is implemented, then adaptability is improved, but distinguishing source and sink functions becomes difficult leading to overvoltage issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transistor circuit into distinct functional parts: a main transistor for normal operation and a protection transistor for overvoltage conditions. This segmentation allows the circuit to handle different operational modes (source and sink functions) separately, with the protection transistor specifically addressing overvoltage scenarios that may arise from difficulty in distinguishing source and sink roles in Type-C connectors.
Data Source
AI summary
An overvoltage protection circuit is provided. The overvoltage protection circuit includes: a current output circuit including a first transistor arranged between a power supply and a CC terminal and a second transistor arranged between the first transistor and the CC terminal, the current output circuit outputting the current to the first transistor to be driven such that a current flows from the power supply; and a gate input circuit controlling a voltage of a gate and a voltage of a back gate of the second transistor, the gate input circuit controls the voltage of the gate and the voltage of the back gate of the second transistor in response to a voltage applied to the CC terminal, and the current output circuit protects the first transistor from the voltage applied to the CC terminal under control of the second transistor.