Power-Modulated Adaptor for Data and Back-End Power Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost of adaptors used to connect portable devices with other devices is attributed to the need for additional power supply, which increases the overall expense.

Innovation Solution

The adaptor modulates a power signal received from the front end device according to a data signal, eliminating the need for an additional power supply to the back end device by using the modulated signal for both data transmission and power-up, thereby reducing the adaptor's cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an adaptor includes an additional power supply to power up the back end device, then the back end device can be reliably powered, but the cost of the adaptor increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply reliabilityVSAvoidadaptor cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the power transmission and data transmission functions into a single power line. The front end device modulates the power signal to encode data, and the back end device demodulates the power signal to retrieve data. This eliminates the need for separate data transmission pathways and additional power supply components in the adaptor, reducing cost while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The power line serves multiple functions: it provides power to the back end device and simultaneously transmits data through modulation. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed in the adaptor, eliminating the need for separate power supply units and data communication interfaces, thereby reducing the adaptor's cost.

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

2Reliability

If the adaptor uses separate power and data transmission pathways, then data transmission is reliable, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidadaptor structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines power transmission and data transmission into a single pathway. Data is encoded by modulating the power signal's characteristics (such as frequency, amplitude, or phase), allowing both power delivery and data communication to occur simultaneously over the same physical connection, simplifying the adaptor structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The front end device changes parameters of the power signal (frequency, amplitude, or phase) to encode data. The back end device detects these parameter changes to retrieve data. This parameter modulation approach enables reliable data transmission through the power line without requiring separate data transmission hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces the cost of the adaptor by eliminating the need for an additional power supply and allows for efficient data transmission and power delivery to the back end device, forming a cost-effective solution.

Implementation Method 1

a modulator circuit (102), the modulator circuit being configured to modulate a power signal received from the front end device according to a power controlling signal generated by the controller (101), and output a modulated signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSignal modulation: Phase Modulation

Data Source

PatentEP3636009B1Adaptor and controlling method for the same
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 TRIDONIC GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3636009B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3636009B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3636009B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An adaptor and a controlling method of the adaptor, the adaptor is used for connecting a front end device with a back end device, the adaptor includes: a controller, configured to generate a power controlling signal according to a first data signal received from the front end device; and a modulator circuit, configured to modulate a power signal according to the power controlling signal, and output a modulated signal to an output terminal of the modulator circuit, the power signal being received from the front end device and supplied to the controller. Therefore, additional power supply is not needed to power up the back end device, the cost of the adaptor is lower.