USB Control Chip Calibration for Accurate Over Current Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low-level USB-C control chips used in electronic devices face challenges with noise resistance and analog-to-digital conversion accuracy, leading to inaccurate over current protection mechanisms, which can result in premature or delayed enablement of protection, potentially causing power issues or safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A calibration method and device that calibrate the USB control chip by generating constant load currents, acquiring analog-to-digital conversion values, and using backward calculation and conversion parameter calibration to generate calibrated conversion parameters, ensuring accurate over current protection mechanism enablement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If low-level control chip is used to reduce production cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but analog-to-digital conversion accuracy deteriorates leading to large conversion errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing calibration before actual operation. The calibration process pre-adjusts the conversion parameters of the analog-to-digital conversion module using known reference current values, storing calibrated parameters that compensate for hardware imperfections. This preliminary calibration step ensures accurate current detection without requiring high-end hardware, thus resolving the contradiction between using low-cost chips and achieving high conversion accuracy.
2Device complexity
If preset conversion parameter is used in analog-to-digital conversion module, then conversion process is simplified, but conversion error increases due to noise and poor resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the conversion parameters of the analog-to-digital conversion module based on calibration results. Instead of using fixed preset parameters, the system determines optimal conversion parameters through calibration processes and stores these calibrated parameters for use during actual operation. This allows the conversion process to maintain simplicity while achieving high accuracy by using optimized parameters tailored to the specific hardware characteristics.
3Reliability
If over current protection mechanism is enabled too early due to conversion error, then protection function is activated, but normal power output is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing calibration before actual operation. The calibration process pre-adjusts the conversion parameters of the analog-to-digital conversion module using known reference current values, storing calibrated parameters that compensate for hardware imperfections. This preliminary calibration step ensures accurate current detection without requiring high-end hardware, thus resolving the contradiction between using low-cost chips and achieving high conversion accuracy.
4Productivity
If over current protection mechanism is enabled too late due to conversion error, then power delivery continues, but electronic products face current impact danger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a calibration process that uses known reference current values to evaluate and adjust the conversion parameters. The system continuously compares the converted digital values against expected values and adjusts the conversion parameters accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the over current protection mechanism activates at the correct threshold, preventing both premature activation that would reduce productivity and delayed activation that would compromise safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A calibration device includes a main control unit, an interface conversion unit and an electronic load generation unit. The electronic load generation unit provides an electronic load, so that a USB control chip generates a constant load current. The USB control chip uses at least one preset conversion parameter to generate an analog-to-digital conversion value according to the constant load current. The main control unit generates a to-be-calibrated output current according to the analog-to-digital conversion value. The main control unit generates at least one calibrated conversion parameter according to the constant load current and the to-be-calibrated output current. The USB control chip uses the at least one calibrated conversion parameter to generate a calibrated analog-to-digital conversion value, so that an over current protection mechanism is accurately enabled.