Power Delivery Authentication Mechanism for Safe USB PD Negotiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in safely supplying power between a power supply apparatus and a power receiving apparatus, even when both conform to a standard like USB PD, due to potential non-conformity of the power supply apparatus, which can lead to unsafe power delivery.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a requesting unit and a determination unit in the power receiving apparatus and a informing unit and determination unit in the power supply apparatus to authenticate the standard compliance and request or inform power levels, ensuring safe power supply by initially providing minimum necessary power for authentication and then increasing to higher levels if authentic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If power negotiation communication is performed according to USB PD standard, then power delivery capability is improved, but safety against non-conformant power supply apparatus deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing authentication of the power supply apparatus before conducting power negotiation communication. The authentication unit verifies whether the power supply apparatus is genuine according to the USB PD standard prior to allowing power delivery, thereby preventing unsafe power supply from non-conformant devices while maintaining full power negotiation capability
2Ease of operation
If power supply is allowed without authentication, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism between the power supply apparatus and power receiving apparatus. The authentication unit acts as a mediator that verifies the legitimacy of the power supply apparatus before enabling power delivery, thus maintaining operational convenience while eliminating the harmful effect of unsafe power delivery from non-conformant devices
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a requesting unit that requests a power supply apparatus to supply power, and a determination unit that determines whether the power supply apparatus is an authentic apparatus. In a case in which the determination unit determines whether the power supply apparatus is the authentic apparatus, after the requesting unit has requested the power supply apparatus to supply first power and the determination unit determines that the power supply apparatus is the authentic apparatus, the requesting unit then requests the power supply apparatus to supply second power higher than the first power.