Power Circuit USB Current Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Devices like cell phones and digital cameras face power disruptions when connected to a personal computer, leading to potential data loss due to battery discharge, and existing solutions require inconvenient AC adapters for power supply.
Innovation Solution
A power circuit with a switching unit that adjusts power supply to a load based on an external switching signal, allowing for efficient current regulation between 100 mA and 500 mA, enabling power delivery without an AC adapter through USB interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If power is supplied from a USB interface with multiple current specifications (100 mA or 500 mA), then the device can operate without an AC adapter, but the power supply capability is limited by the interface specification
Solution Approach 1:
The power circuit dynamically adjusts its operation based on the detected USB interface specification. The control unit detects whether the interface supports 100 mA or 500 mA and switches the power supply mode accordingly, making the system adaptable to different power availability conditions while maintaining portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its power consumption parameters based on the detected interface capability. When 500 mA is available, the system operates at higher power levels; when only 100 mA is available, it switches to lower power consumption mode, optimizing performance within the constraints of the power source.
2Ease of operation
If the system uses battery power while connected to a personal computer, then portability is maintained, but the battery may discharge during data transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the power source status and battery charge level. When power is detected from the USB interface, the system switches to powered operation. When power is interrupted or insufficient, it automatically switches to battery power, providing seamless power management that maintains both portability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively detects the availability of power from the personal computer and switches to powered operation before the battery is depleted. This preliminary detection and switching mechanism prevents battery exhaustion during data transmission, ensuring continuous operation.
3Reliability
If an AC adapter is connected for power supply, then power supply reliability is improved, but operability and portability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the power adapter function from a separate external device and integrates it into the USB interface itself. The control unit detects power availability directly from the USB connection, eliminating the need for a separate AC adapter while maintaining reliable powered operation when the personal computer is connected.
Solution Approach 2:
The USB interface is utilized for multiple functions: data transmission, communication, and power supply. By detecting power availability from the same interface used for data connection, the system achieves multi-functionality that eliminates the need for separate power and data connections, improving both portability and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A power circuit is disclosed which is connected to a power source supplying different currents. The power circuit supplying driving power from the power source to a load includes a switching unit configured to switch the driving power supplied to the load in response to an external switching signal.