USB PDIC VBUS Control for Low-Standby Type-C Connections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing USB Type-C systems continue to consume standby power by maintaining a minimum VBUS voltage of 5V even when power is not required, leading to unnecessary energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a USB power delivery integrated circuit (PDIC) that determines connection to a PD source and controls the VBUS voltage to be less than a threshold voltage while maintaining communication, minimizing standby power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the VBUS voltage is maintained at a minimum of 5V to enable CC communication, then communication with the PD source is ensured, but standby power consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage control where the VBUS voltage is adjusted based on the operational state of the electronic device. When the device is in a standby or low-power state, the VBUS voltage is reduced below the traditional 5V minimum threshold. When active communication or power delivery is required, the voltage is raised to the appropriate level. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the voltage level adaptive rather than static, ensuring communication reliability only when actually needed while minimizing power consumption during standby periods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage parameter from a fixed 5V minimum to a variable level that can be adjusted based on system state. The USB PDIC monitors device state and modifies the VBUS voltage parameter accordingly - maintaining 5V or higher when communication is active, and reducing below 5V when in standby mode. This parameter change allows the system to optimize between communication reliability and power consumption by selecting the appropriate voltage level for each operational context
2Use of energy by moving object
If the VBUS voltage is reduced below 5V to minimize standby power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but communication capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring of device state and conditional voltage adjustment. The USB PDIC continuously or periodically checks whether the device is in an active or standby state, and only reduces VBUS voltage when confidently in standby mode. This periodic verification ensures that communication capability is maintained when needed while allowing power reduction during confirmed low-activity periods, resolving the contradiction through time-based state assessment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the USB PDIC monitors both device state and communication requirements to dynamically adjust VBUS voltage. The system receives feedback about whether communication is currently active or required, and uses this feedback to determine the appropriate voltage level. This closed-loop control ensures that voltage reduction below 5V occurs only when communication capability is not currently needed, eliminating the trade-off by making voltage adjustment responsive to actual system requirements
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example embodiment, an electronic device includes: a universal serial bus (USB) power delivery integrated circuit (PDIC) configured to determine whether a first pin of a USB port of the electronic device is connected to a power delivery (PD) source; a charging circuitry configured to charge a battery of the electronic device with power supplied from the PD source through a second pin of the USB port; a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions by accessing the memory. When the USB PDIC determines that the first pin and the PD source are connected, the instructions may cause the processor to control a voltage of the second pin to be less than a threshold voltage while maintaining communication between the USB PDIC and the PD source through the first pin based on a state of the electronic device. In addition, various example embodiments may be possible.