Power Delivery Apparatus Using Periodic Sensing Voltage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power delivery systems require dedicated power supplies for power sink devices and often involve high power consumption and risk of electrical shock during connection detection, limiting plug-and-play capability and increasing hardware requirements.

Innovation Solution

A power delivery apparatus using a periodic sensing voltage lower than the power supply voltage to automatically detect and connect power sink devices via a data transmission link, reducing power consumption and electrical shock risk while enabling normal operation without dedicated power supplies, and incorporating a voltage compensation and boost circuit to ensure efficient power delivery across varying link lengths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a periodic sensing voltage is used to detect power sink device connection, then power consumption is reduced and electrical shock risk is minimized, but the detection capability must be maintained without significant adverse impact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddetection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic sensing voltage instead of continuous sensing voltage to detect the presence of a power sink device. The sensing voltage is applied in periodic pulses, which reduces the overall power consumption and minimizes electrical shock risk while still enabling reliable detection of the power sink device through analysis of the voltage response during each pulse cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If a dedicated power supply is required for power sink devices, then reliable power delivery is ensured, but hardware requirements increase and plug-and-play capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower delivery reliabilityVSAvoidhardware requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the data transmission link with the power delivery function by applying sensing voltage and power supply voltage through the same data transmission link. This eliminates the need for dedicated power supply hardware at the power sink device, enabling plug-and-play capability while maintaining reliable power delivery through the integrated link.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The data transmission link is designed to serve multiple functions: data communication, connection detection through periodic sensing, and power delivery through power supply voltage. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated power supply components, reducing hardware complexity while ensuring reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If power supply voltage is applied over long distances, then power delivery to remote devices is enabled, but voltage drop and power loss increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower delivery rangeVSAvoidpower loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements adaptive voltage adjustment where the power supply voltage is dynamically modified based on the detected length of the data transmission link. When a long link is detected, the system increases the power supply voltage to compensate for voltage drop, ensuring sufficient power delivery to remote devices while minimizing energy loss through optimized voltage levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3461062B1Power delivery apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 GENERAL ELECTRIC TECH GMBH
  • EP3461062B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3461062B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3461062B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A power delivery apparatus (20) comprises a power source device (22), a power sink device (24) and a data transmission link (26), the power source device (22) connected to one end of the data transmission link (26), the power sink device (24) selectively connectable to another end of the data transmission link (26), the data transmission link (26) configured to permit transmission of data between the power source device (22) and the power sink device (24) when the power sink device (24) is connected to the data transmission link (26), wherein the power source device (22) is configured to apply a periodic sensing voltage to the data transmission link (26), the power delivery apparatus (20) further including a sensing device configured to detect, via the application of the periodic sensing voltage to the data transmission link (26), whether the power sink device (24) is connected to the data transmission link (26), and the power source device (22) is configured so that, in response to the power sink device (24) being detected as connected to the data transmission link (26), the power source device (22) applies a power supply voltage to the data transmission link (26) to supply power to the power sink device (24) via the data transmission link (26) so as to enable a normal operation of the power sink device (24).