Single-Wire Bus Power Control for High-Current Slave Operations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional single-wire interface systems face challenges in providing sufficient power to slave devices, especially during high-current operations due to insufficient voltage and increased current demand, which can lead to voltage drops and reduced operational margins.

Innovation Solution

A controller is implemented to adaptively control the power at the single-wire interface by managing the electrical behavior of the charging path, allowing current to be provided during high-current operations and reducing voltage drops through the use of field-effect transistors and capacitors, ensuring sufficient power is available for slave devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If conventional single-wire interface systems are used, then the structure is simple, but insufficient power is provided to slave devices during high-current operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower provided to slave deviceVSAvoidcontroller complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller dynamically adjusts the charging path electrical behavior based on operation type. During high-current operations, the controller modifies the charging path to provide additional current to the slave device, transitioning from a static power delivery system to a dynamic one that adapts to power demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The controller receives and processes operation type information in advance before the high-current operation executes. This allows the controller to prepare and adjust the charging path electrical behavior proactively, ensuring sufficient power is available when needed without reacting too late.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If conventional single-wire interface systems are used, then the fabrication process is simple, but voltage drops occur during high-current operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidfabrication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The controller acts as an intermediary between the power source and the slave device, managing the charging path electrical behavior to reduce voltage drops. By inserting this control layer, the system can actively compensate for voltage drops during high-current operations without fundamentally changing the single-wire interface structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller changes electrical parameters of the charging path based on operation type. During high-current operations, it adjusts current delivery parameters to maintain adequate voltage levels at the slave device, preventing voltage drops that would compromise operational reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If additional power sources are added to single-wire interface, then sufficient power is provided, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower availabilityVSAvoidpower source quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs multiple functions: it manages data communication, controls the charging path electrical behavior, and provides adaptive power delivery. By making the controller multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated power management components, thus maintaining simplicity while ensuring sufficient power availability.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines power management functionality with the existing controller, merging what could have been separate power control circuits into the unified controller architecture. This consolidation provides the needed power management capabilities without increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 adaptive power control ensures reliable operation of slave devices during high-current tasks by reducing voltage drops and maintaining a higher operating margin, eliminating the need for additional power sources and simplifying the fabrication process.

Implementation Method 1

reducing voltage drops through the use of field-effect transistors and capacitors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectField-effect transistor operation:

Implementation Method 2

reducing voltage drops through the use of field-effect transistors and capacitors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP4099175B1Adaptive host bus power control
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
  • EP4099175B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4099175B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP4099175B1 patent drawingFigure 3B~4

AI summary

According to various aspects, a controller (200) may be configured to: control a transmission (204) over a single-wire interface (202) of an instruction corresponding to a high-current operation; and control (206) an electrical behavior of a charging path to provide current at the single-wire interface (202) during a time period corresponding to an execution of the instructed high-current operation.