USB Type-C Power Adapter for Battery Charger Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery chargers suffer from significant power dissipation and thermal issues, limiting their ability to utilize higher-power AC/DC adapters and occupying substantial printed circuit board area, which restricts system performance and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A USB type-C power adapter system that communicates with the battery charger to adjust input power limits and output voltage, allowing for higher power reception without increasing component size or dissipation, by using a USB controller to monitor and control charging parameters and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional battery charger is used, then the system can charge the battery, but significant power dissipation (10-15%) occurs causing thermal problems and limiting system performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the battery charger functionality from the main system by implementing it as a standalone USB Type-C power adapter. This separation removes the charger's power dissipation and thermal issues from the system, as the adapter handles all power conversion externally, eliminating the need for internal charging components that generate heat.
Solution Approach 2:
The USB Type-C power adapter serves as an intermediary device between the power source and the system battery. It mediates the power transfer by handling all voltage conversion and current regulation externally, preventing the generation of harmful thermal effects within the system while still enabling efficient charging through controlled power delivery.
2Productivity
If a conventional battery charger is used, then the battery can be charged, but the charger occupies significant printed circuit board area (300-400 mm2 for 30W)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the battery charger and its associated components (FETs, inductors, control circuits) from the system's printed circuit board entirely. By implementing charging functionality in an external USB Type-C power adapter, the system eliminates the need for dedicated charging circuitry on the board, freeing up 300-400 mm2 of valuable space for other system components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a battery charger is designed to support a maximum power capability of 30W, then the charger can handle standard adapters, but it cannot take advantage of higher-power adapters (e.g., 100W)
Solution Approach 1:
The USB Type-C power adapter implements dynamic power adjustment capability through USB Type-C control protocols. The adapter can dynamically negotiate and adjust its output power based on the system's actual charging needs, allowing it to efficiently utilize higher-power adapters (up to 100W or more) while maintaining compatibility with standard power sources. This dynamic adaptation eliminates the fixed 30W limitation of conventional chargers.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a system includes a first link to couple first universal serial bus (USB) type-C control logic and electrical charger control logic of electrical charger circuitry. The first link is to provide a first data path between the first USB type-C control logic and the electrical charger control logic. The system also includes the first USB type-C control logic to receive first control data from the electrical charger control logic via the first link, and a second link to couple the first USB type-C control logic to second USB type-C control logic of a USB type-C power adapter circuitry. The second link is to provide a second data path for the first control data from the first USB type-C controller logic to the second USB type-C control logic. Other embodiments are described and claimed.