USB Hub Voltage Control for Leakage Current Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current USB hubs experience unnecessary power consumption due to current leakage during the suspend state, as they provide a fixed core voltage in both working and suspend states, leading to increased energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A USB hub with a control unit, core circuit group, and voltage conversion unit that detects the state to produce different voltages, providing a lower suspend voltage when in a suspend state to reduce leakage current and power consumption, while maintaining basic operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed core voltage is provided in the USB hub during suspend state, then the circuit can maintain basic operation, but current leakage occurs causing unnecessary power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the core voltage adjustable rather than fixed. The voltage conversion unit dynamically changes the core voltage based on the operational state - providing normal working voltage during active operation and a lower suspend voltage during suspend state. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain basic operation reliability when needed while significantly reducing power consumption during suspend state by minimizing leakage current.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the core voltage parameter according to operational requirements. The voltage conversion unit changes the voltage parameter from normal working voltage to a lower suspend voltage when entering suspend state. This parameter change directly addresses the contradiction by allowing the circuit to maintain basic operation at higher voltage when necessary, while reducing power consumption by lowering the voltage parameter during suspend state to minimize leakage current.
2Loss of energy
If a lower suspend voltage is provided to reduce leakage current, then power consumption decreases, but the ability to maintain basic operations is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage conversion unit dynamically adjusts the core voltage based on the operational state. During suspend state, it provides a lower suspend voltage to reduce leakage current and power consumption. When the hub needs to resume normal operation, the voltage is dynamically increased back to normal working voltage. This dynamic behavior allows the system to achieve low power consumption during suspend while maintaining the capability to restore full operation when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by maintaining a lower suspend voltage during suspend state, which prepares the circuit in an energy-efficient state. The voltage conversion unit is pre-configured to quickly restore normal working voltage when wake-up events occur, ensuring that basic operations can be maintained without requiring continuous high voltage. This preliminary voltage level adjustment reduces power consumption while preserving the ability to maintain operations when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
A universal serial bus and a control method thereof are provided. Different voltages are respectively provided to circuit groups when a universal serial bus hub is in a suspend state and a normal working state, so as to reduce leakage current.