USB-C Charge Protocol Translation Between QC and USBPD
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power delivery systems fail to facilitate communication and power negotiations between Quick Charge (QC) power sources without USB Power Delivery (USBPD) support and USBPD devices, leading to default charging rates due to lack of direct communication over CC or D+/D− lines.
Innovation Solution
A translation device with two USB Type-C ports that detects device connections and supports, enabling communication and power negotiations by translating USBPD messages to QC signalling and vice versa, using a control unit to manage power negotiations and handle potential VBUS collapses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a non-USBPD power source is connected to a USBPD device, then the connection is established, but no higher power negotiations occur resulting in default USB charging rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a translation device as an intermediary between the QC power source and USBPD device. This mediator translates QC signalling protocols into USBPD messages that the USBPD device can understand, enabling power negotiations that would otherwise be impossible. The translation device receives QC signalling from the power source, converts it to USBPD protocol messages, and forwards them to the USBPD device, thereby bridging the communication gap between incompatible protocols.
2Power
If a QC power source without USBPD support is connected to a USBPD device, then the connection is established, but no direct communication occurs over CC or D+/D− lines resulting in default charging rate
Solution Approach 1:
The translation device serves as a protocol adapter that enables communication between QC and USBPD systems. It connects to the QC power source on one side and the USBPD device on the other, translating messages between the two protocols. This allows the system to achieve protocol compatibility without requiring either the power source or device to support both protocols natively.
Solution Approach 2:
The translation device changes the communication parameters by converting message formats, signalling protocols, and data structures between QC and USBPD standards. It transforms QC-specific message parameters into USBPD-equivalent parameters, enabling the USBPD device to negotiate power delivery with a QC power source as if they spoke the same protocol.
3Power
If message translation is implemented between QC and USBPD protocols, then power negotiations are enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The translation device is designed as a dedicated standalone component that segments the translation function from both the QC power source and USBPD device. This segmentation isolates the complexity of protocol translation to a single device, keeping the original QC and USBPD systems simple and unchanged. The translation device handles all protocol conversion internally without requiring modifications to the connected devices.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a system and method to enable power negotiations between a Quick Charge (QC) power source with no USB power delivery (USBPD) support and a USBPD device. The proposed method identifies the support of USBPD and QC in the devices; determines the possibility of direct communication between the devices over either the D+/D− lines or the CC lines, initiates the power negotiations between USBPD device and QC power source either by translating the USBPD messages on CC line to QC signalling on the D+/D− lines and vice versa, or by handling the USBPD messages independently or combination of both; enable the fast charging of USBPD device till the maximum capacity of QC power source complying with USBPD and QC specifications.