USB Type-C Switching Circuit Signal Path Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing USB Type-C products require external Port Switches or Port Muxes to manage signal paths, leading to signal integrity issues and increased system costs due to additional losses and larger PCB volumes, making it challenging to achieve high-speed signal transmission and compact product designs.
Innovation Solution
A USB Type-C switching circuit that arranges signal paths internally within the system chip, using signal receivers/transmitters, series-parallel transforming circuits, and a multiplexer to convert signals between parallel and serial domains, eliminating the need for external Port Switches or Muxes, thereby reducing signal losses and PCB size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an external Port Switch or Port Mux is used to arrange signal paths, then the USB Type-C connector can support reverse plug orientation and DisplayPort Alternate Mode, but signal integrity deteriorates due to insertion loss and return loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the Port Switch/Mux functionality with the USB controller chip by integrating the multiplexer directly into the chip architecture. This eliminates the need for external Port Switch devices, thereby reducing signal path length and minimizing insertion loss and return loss while maintaining the ability to handle reverse plug orientation and DisplayPort Alternate Mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the signal path arrangement function from external Port Switch devices and relocates it inside the USB controller chip. By moving the multiplexer functionality internally, the design removes the harmful external interface controllers that cause signal degradation while preserving the required adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an external Port Switch or Port Mux is used to manage signal paths, then signal arrangement flexibility is improved, but system cost increases due to additional chips and PCB area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (USB controller, Port Switch, and signal arrangement logic) into a single integrated chip. The multiplexer is embedded within the USB controller chip, eliminating the need for separate external Port Switch chips and reducing the total number of components on the PCB.
Solution Approach 2:
The USB controller chip is designed to perform multiple functions: USB Type-C connectivity, DisplayPort Alternate Mode support, reverse plug orientation handling, and signal path arrangement. This multi-functional design replaces what previously required multiple separate specialized chips.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a USB Type-C switching circuit configured for arranging a plurality of signals of a USB Type-C connector. The USB Type-C switching circuit can be used in products having DisplayPort Alternate mode, and includes a plurality of signal receivers/receivers, a plurality of series-parallel transforming circuits and a multiplexer. The signal receivers/receivers are connected to the USB Type-C connector to receive/transmit signals. The series-parallel transforming circuits are connected to the signal receivers/receivers to convert the signals between a parallel domain and a serial domain. The multiplexer is connected to the series-parallel transforming circuits to arrange the signals in the parallel domain according to a control signal.