USB Host Power Routing for Dead Battery Conditions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current USB-PD implementations face challenges in safely routing power during a dead battery condition, where shorting of power from multiple sources can damage circuitry and wiring, as the USB host and device temporarily switch roles, leading to potential large current flows.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a USB host with multiple switch configurations, including single pole and double pole switches, to selectively route power from either the USB host or device, ensuring safe power delivery and avoiding short circuits by monitoring voltage levels and using switches to manage power flow based on the availability of power sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If power is routed from consumer to provider during dead battery condition, then the provider can receive operating power, but large current flows may damage circuitry and wiring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower delivery reliabilityVSAvoidcurrent flow damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A current limiting circuit is introduced as an intermediary component between the consumer and provider power paths. This circuit actively monitors and limits the current flow during dead battery condition power transfer, preventing damaging current surges while enabling reliable power delivery to the provider device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of battery status and power source availability before initiating power transfer. By detecting dead battery conditions in advance and preparing appropriate power routing paths with current limiting already in place, the system prevents harmful current flows before they can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple switches are used to route power selectively, then power routing flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower routing flexibilityVSAvoidswitch configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power routing system is segmented into multiple independent switch modules, each controlling a specific power path. This modular segmentation allows flexible power routing configurations while simplifying control logic for each individual switch, as each module operates semi-autonomously based on detected power source availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The switch configurations are made dynamic and adaptive rather than fixed. The system automatically adjusts switch states based on real-time detection of battery status and power source availability, enabling flexible power routing without requiring complex manual configuration or control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10725518B2Techniques to route power to a USB host in dead battery condition

Publication Date: 2020.07.28 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Examples may include routing power between a Universal Serial Bus (USB) host and a USB device. In some examples, the power may be routed from a power source at the USB device while the USB host is in a dead battery condition. Various switches at the USB host may be capable of selectively switching to route power from the power source to provide operating power to circuitry at the USB host.