Dynamic USB Cable Line Configuration for Power Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional USB cables have limited power delivery capabilities, which may not meet the unique and changing power requirements of downstream devices, and are not easily configurable to provide different voltage levels or separate power sources.
Innovation Solution
The USB-type cable lines can be dynamically configured to carry both data and power, with the traditional data lines (D+ and D−) being used to provide power after a handshaking procedure, allowing for various voltage levels, including 5 volts, 3.3 volts, and 2.5 volts, and even negative voltages, and enabling separate charging circuits by reconfiguring the lines to act as power supply lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional USB cable lines are used with fixed power delivery capabilities, then the cable structure remains simple and compatible with USB standards, but the power delivery capability is limited and cannot meet diverse power requirements of downstream devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cable line configuration changeable from static to dynamic. The USB cable lines can be reconfigured during operation to switch between data transmission mode and power delivery mode, allowing the same physical cable to adapt to different power requirements of downstream devices without changing the physical cable structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by enabling USB cable lines to serve multiple functions. The same cable lines that traditionally only carried power or only carried data can now be dynamically assigned to different functions - serving as power lines when power delivery is needed, or as data lines when data transmission is needed, making the cable universally applicable to various device requirements
2Adaptability or versatility
If USB cable lines are dynamically reconfigured to provide different voltage levels and power capacities, then power requirements of various devices can be met, but the configuration complexity and detection difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing the handshaking procedure and line configuration detection before actual power delivery or data transmission begins. The upstream device and downstream device negotiate and establish the appropriate line configuration (whether lines will carry power or data) in advance, so that when power delivery starts, the configuration is already determined and no complex real-time detection is needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the handshaking procedure where the upstream device detects the downstream device's power requirements and communicates back the appropriate configuration. The system uses feedback signals during the handshaking phase to determine which lines should be configured as power lines and which as data lines, based on the actual power needs of the connected device
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for an upstream device to configure a plurality of lines in a cable. The method comprises the upstream device placing a first voltage on a first one of the lines traditionally specified to supply power; the upstream device grounding a second one of the lines traditionally specified to be a ground line; and the upstream device placing on a third one of the lines traditionally specified to convey data a second voltage for supplying power.