Port Over-Voltage Detection Using Shared Switch Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems face challenges in protecting ports and external devices from over-voltage conditions, which can lead to damage, and existing power path protection circuitry often requires redundant components that increase cost and size.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a power path protection system across multiple ports that detects over-voltage conditions and decouples external devices using switches, where logic circuitry at one port can control another to provide redundant protection, reducing the need for redundant components at each port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant components are added to power path protection circuitry to protect against component failure, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines protection functions across multiple ports by having detection circuitry at one port control switches at other ports. This merging of protection functions allows the system to achieve redundant protection without adding redundant components at each port, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal protection mechanism where a single detection circuitry can monitor and protect multiple ports. The detection circuitry at one port serves multiple functions by detecting over-voltage conditions and controlling switches at both its own port and other ports, providing cross-port protection without requiring dedicated redundant components at each port.
2Reliability
If redundant components are added to power path protection circuitry to provide backup protection, then reliability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges protection functions across ports to achieve redundant protection without duplicating components. By having detection circuitry at one port control switches at multiple ports, the system obtains the benefits of redundancy while significantly reducing the number of components required, thereby lowering manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of physically copying redundant protection components at each port, the patent uses a control signal copying approach where detection circuitry at one port generates control signals that are replicated across multiple ports through shared switch control, achieving functional redundancy without component duplication.
3Reliability
If redundant components are added to power path protection circuitry, then protection reliability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges protection functions across multiple ports into a single detection circuitry location, eliminating the need for separate redundant components at each port. This consolidation significantly reduces the total circuit board area required while maintaining comprehensive protection coverage across all ports.
Data Source
AI summary
Redundancy in over-voltage fault protection may be provided by controlling switches already present in a power path of a port for an information handling system. An external device coupled to a port may be decoupled from the system when an over-voltage condition is detected at another port of the information handling system. To decouple an external device upon detection of an over-voltage condition, a switch coupled to the port and the external device is turned off. A battery may also be decoupled from a port upon detection of an over-voltage condition at another port.