USB-C Power Delivery Current Limiting for MOSFET Transients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current USB-C power delivery controllers face challenges in dynamically managing current levels during runtime, particularly when transitioning from lower to higher voltage contracts, which can lead to MOSFET damage due to high transient currents, and existing methods cannot adjust current limiting settings without reprogramming or powering down the system.
Innovation Solution
A power delivery controller with a configuration manager that dynamically adjusts configuration settings for current limiting methods during runtime by using a combination of hardware and firmware circuit breakers, allowing for seamless transitions between different current threshold values based on negotiated contracts, thereby preventing MOSFET damage and ensuring safe operating conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current limiting settings are adjusted to prevent MOSFET damage during voltage transitions, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple current control devices and configuration management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic current limiting by switching between different current control devices based on operating conditions. The configuration manager dynamically selects which current control device to use during runtime, allowing the system to adapt current limiting behavior to different voltage contracts and transition states, thereby protecting MOSFETs without requiring a fixed complex structure for all scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the current limiting function into multiple separate current control devices, each responsible for specific current threshold ranges or conditions. This segmentation allows each device to be optimized for its specific function while the configuration manager coordinates them, making the overall system more manageable and reliable despite the increased number of components
2Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic current adjustment is implemented during runtime, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to configuration management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration manager automatically monitors the voltage contract state and autonomously determines when to switch between different current control devices. The system performs self-configuration based on pre-defined conditions associated with different voltage contracts, eliminating the need for manual reprogramming or external intervention during runtime, thus achieving adaptability without proportionally increasing operational complexity
3Reliability
If hardware current limiting is used to prevent high transient currents, then reliability is improved, but loss of time occurs due to system reprogramming or power down requirements in existing methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures multiple current control devices with different current threshold values corresponding to different voltage contracts before runtime. The configuration manager has pre-established knowledge of which current control device to activate based on the voltage contract state. This preliminary preparation allows instantaneous switching between current limiting modes during runtime without requiring system reprogramming or power down, thus maintaining reliability while eliminating time loss
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to allow dynamic changing between current limiting methods. A power delivery controller comprising: a power control device; a first current control device, the first current control device to control the power control device when a current level associated with a current flowing between a first device and a second device exceeds a first adjustable current threshold value; a second current control device to control the power control device when the current level exceeds a second adjustable current threshold value; and a configuration manager to, during runtime, set a first configuration setting of the first current control device and a second configuration setting of the second current control device, the first configuration setting and second configuration setting based on a negotiated contract corresponding to the first device and the second device.