USB-PD Controller for Wireless Charging Power Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless charging systems require complex and costly circuitry with separate microcontrollers for power management, leading to latency and increased system development costs, and lack efficient control over variable load levels.

Innovation Solution

A USB-Power Delivery (PD) integrated circuit (IC) controller that integrates with both a USB power adaptor and a wireless charging station, allowing for direct control of voltage and power levels, reducing the need for additional regulators and enabling rapid adjustments to meet changing power demands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate microcontrollers are used to control the power adaptor and wireless charging station, then control functionality is provided, but time latency occurs for messaging and signaling to adjust incoming power level

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol functionalityVSAvoidtime latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines separate microcontrollers into a single integrated controller that manages both the power adaptor and wireless charging station. This consolidation eliminates the need for inter-microcontroller messaging and signaling, thereby removing the time latency associated with communication protocols while maintaining full control functionality through unified power management logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated controller performs multiple functions that were previously handled by separate microcontrollers, including power adaptor control, wireless charging station management, and communication coordination. This multi-functional design reduces system complexity and eliminates communication delays between separate control units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Power

If fixed voltage power supplies of various levels are used to charge the receiver, then power delivery is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase due to additional regulators

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower deliveryVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the power regulation functions into the integrated controller, eliminating the need for separate fixed voltage power supplies and additional regulators. The unified controller dynamically adjusts power delivery across different voltage levels (5V, 9V, 12V, etc.) through coordinated control of the power adaptor and wireless charging station, reducing component count and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using fixed voltage power supplies, the system employs dynamic voltage and power adjustment through the integrated controller. The controller can adaptively change power delivery levels based on real-time conditions such as battery state of charge, temperature, and device requirements, replacing static regulatory components with intelligent control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If extra regulators are used to adjust voltage for the resonant tank, then voltage control is achieved, but circuit board area and system losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage controlVSAvoidcircuit board area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates voltage control functionality into the unified controller, eliminating the need for separate voltage regulators connected to the resonant tank. The integrated controller manages voltage adjustment through coordinated control of the power adaptor output and wireless charging station input, reducing the number of discrete components and minimizing circuit board area requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If frequency changes or voltage changes are used for over-voltage and over-current protection, then protection is provided, but response time is decreased due to inter IC communications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection capabilityVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines protection control functions into the integrated controller, eliminating inter-IC communication delays that previously slowed down over-voltage and over-current protection responses. The unified controller can immediately detect fault conditions and adjust frequency or voltage parameters without waiting for messaging between separate microcontrollers, significantly improving response time while maintaining protection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12355288B2USB power delivery integrated circuit controller with wireless charging station control capability

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AMERICAS CORP

AI summary

A Universal Serial Bus (USB)-Power Delivery (PD) integrated circuit (IC) controller is described. The controller includes: a first USB port configured for coupling the USB-PD IC controller to a USB power adaptor; a second port configured for coupling the USB-PD IC controller to a wireless charging station; and logic configured to control a level of a voltage output by the USB power adaptor and to control an output power level of the wireless charging station, wherein an input voltage of the wireless charging station corresponds to the voltage output by the USB power adaptor or is derived from the voltage output by the USB power adaptor. The IC controls both USB-PD and wireless power simultaneously as a system to transmit power and may limit the output power to prevent overload conditions. A corresponding wireless charging system and method of operating the wireless charging system are also described.