Power Manager Overload Protection via Current Limiting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional portable electronic apparatuses require additional hardware circuits to prevent overload phenomena in power adapters, increasing costs and reducing product competitiveness.

Innovation Solution

A power management method that includes a power manager and controller to detect voltage variations, generate a detecting signal, and calculate an input current limit value to control the input current, thereby preventing overload phenomena without requiring significant hardware additions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hardware circuits are added to prevent overload phenomenon in power adapters, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverload protectionVSAvoidhardware circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces hardware-based overload protection circuits with a software/firmware solution. The controller uses detecting signals generated by the power manager to identify overload conditions and adjusts input current limits through software control, eliminating the need for additional hardware protection circuits while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The power manager and controller are designed to perform multiple functions: normal power management, overload detection through detecting signal monitoring, and dynamic input current limiting. This multi-functionality allows the existing components to handle protection tasks without requiring dedicated hardware circuits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If hardware circuits are added to prevent overload phenomenon, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverload protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention substitutes expensive hardware protection circuits with software-based overload detection and current limiting functionality implemented in the existing power manager and controller, reducing component count and manufacturing cost while maintaining protection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The power manager and controller utilize their existing detecting and control capabilities to perform overload protection functions, allowing the system to protect itself without requiring additional dedicated protection components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If voltage detection and current limiting control are implemented, then overload protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverload protectionVSAvoidcontrol logic complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback control where the power manager monitors voltage and generates detecting signals that feed back to the controller. The controller adjusts the input current limit based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop system that automatically responds to overload conditions without complex external control circuits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9018927B2Portable electronic apparatus and power management method thereof

Publication Date: 2015.04.28 WISTRON CORP

AI summary

A portable electronic apparatus and a power management method are provided. The portable electronic apparatus includes a power manager and a controller. The power manager is used to receive a supply power generated by a power adapter. The power manager determines whether to generate a detecting signal by detecting whether a voltage value variation of the supply power is greater than a preset range. The power manager generates a current detecting value according to an input current provided by the supply power. The controller receives the detecting signal and the current detecting value, and generates an input current limit value according to a receiving status of the detecting signal and the current detecting value. The power manager controls the input current according to the input current limit value.