Overcurrent Protection in USB Hub ICs via Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic apparatuses with multiple USB ports face increased manufacturing costs due to the need for overcurrent control circuits in USB hub ICs, which are necessary to protect against overcurrents but require additional pins and circuits.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus with a power source control unit for each external interface to detect overcurrents and control current supply, a logical product circuit for external interrupt signaling, and an interface control unit to identify and manage overcurrents, allowing the system to shut off power to affected devices without the need for additional circuits in the USB hub IC.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an overcurrent control circuit is incorporated in the USB hub IC, then the electronic apparatus is protected from overcurrent, but the manufacturing cost is raised due to additional pins and circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The overcurrent control function is extracted from the USB hub IC and implemented as a separate standalone circuit. This extraction eliminates the need for additional pins and control circuits within the USB hub IC itself, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining overcurrent protection capability through the separate detection circuit that monitors current and generates interruption signals when overcurrent conditions are detected
Solution Approach 2:
The overcurrent protection function is segmented from the main USB hub IC into a separate detection circuit. This segmentation allows the USB hub IC to focus on its primary functions while the separate circuit handles overcurrent detection, reducing the complexity and cost of the USB hub IC while ensuring dedicated overcurrent protection functionality
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple USB ports are included in an electronic apparatus, then the versatility and functionality are improved, but the complexity of overcurrent control increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single standardized detection circuit design is created that can be universally applied to multiple USB ports. This universal detection circuit uses the same overcurrent detection mechanism and interruption signal generation for each port, simplifying the overall control architecture while supporting multiple USB ports with identical functionality rather than requiring complex port-specific control logic
Data Source
AI summary
The electronic apparatus of the present invention includes: a power source control unit allocated to each of a plurality of external interfaces and configured to control supply or shutoff of a current for an external device and to output whether or not an overcurrent is detected as an overcurrent detection signal; a control unit configured to control supply or shutoff of a current; a logical product circuit that outputs a logical product of the overcurrent detection signals as an external interrupt signal; and an interface control unit configured to, in a case where the overcurrent detection signals is asserted, output external interface information specifying an external interface at which the overcurrent has occurred, and the control unit, in a case where the external interrupt signal is asserted, controls to the power source control unit at which the overcurrent has been detected so as to shut off supply of power.