Multi-port USB-C Power Converter Clock Phase Shift
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Dual-port power converters experience high peak currents and electromagnetic interference (EMI) issues when both ports are switched at the same frequency, leading to dynamic voltage drops and inefficiencies in power delivery.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a phase shift between the switching of each port using a single power controller, which generates phase-shifted clock signals to control the switching of high-side and low-side switches, reducing peak currents and minimizing EMI by ensuring the switches are out of phase with each other.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If both ports are switched at the same frequency, then power delivery is simplified and synchronized, but peak currents increase and EMI issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic switching action with phase shifting between ports. Each port operates at the same switching frequency but with different phase angles (e.g., 0° and 180°), creating periodic non-overlapping current waveforms that reduce peak currents and EMI while maintaining synchronized power delivery control
2Area of stationary object
If phase-shifted clock signals are generated using a single power controller, then device footprint is reduced by eliminating external clock pins, but controller complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clock generation function into the single power controller by integrating a clock generator that produces multiple phase-shifted clock signals. This consolidation eliminates the need for external clock pins and separate clock sources, reducing overall device footprint while the integrated controller handles the complexity internally
Solution Approach 2:
The power controller is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the main power management controller and as the clock signal generator. The single controller generates multiple phase-shifted clock signals for different ports, eliminating the need for separate external clock sources and reducing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-port USB Type-C® Power Delivery (USB-C/PD) power converter for switching clock phase shifts is described herein. The multi-port USB-C/PD power converter includes a first PD port, a second PD port, and a power controller coupled to the first and second PD ports. The power controller includes a first phased clock generator to generate a first phase-shifted clock signal by shifting a clock signal by a first phase with respect to a reference clock signal, and a second phased clock generator to generate a second phase-shifted clock signal to generate a second phased-shifted clock signal by shifting the clock signal by a second phase with respect to the reference clock signal. The first PD port and the second PD port output power in response to a first control signal based on the first phase-shifted clock signal and a second control signal based on the second phase-shifted clock signal, respectively.