FR3079940A1 - METHOD FOR SELECTING POWER SUPPLIED BY A POWER SOURCE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for selecting one or more sets of values characterizing an electrical power from a power source (200) capable of powering a device (400) via a connection interface (214, 414), wherein the selection is made as a function of an output voltage (Vsource) of the power source (200) measured at the connection interface (214, 414).   

Description

METHOD FOR SELECTING A POWER PROVIDED BY A SOURCE

POWER

Field

The present application relates to the field of power transmission cables, and more particularly cables and connectors of the USB-C type using the USB-PD technology. More particularly, the request relates to the means for adapting the voltage and the current of a power source of such a cable.

Presentation of the prior art

Although today wireless is one of the major axes of research in the field of energy and data exchange, cables still seem to be the most reliable means of connecting several electronic devices, either to exchange data or to power or recharge one or more electronic devices.

Among the different types of cables and connectors of the USB standard, the USB-C type is one of the types that allows the exchange of data and energy. USB-PD technology (from the English POWER DELIVERY) is a recharging technology that adapts to USB-C type cables and connectors. This technology allows the power management of electronic devices.

B16668 - 17-GR2-0065FR01

It would be desirable to be able to at least partially improve certain aspects of the USB-C cables adapted to the USB-PD technology.

summary

One embodiment provides a method for selecting one or more sets of values characterizing an electrical power from a power source capable of powering a device via a connection interface, in which the selection is made as a function of an output voltage of the power source measured at the connection interface.

According to one embodiment, said sets of values include at least one supply current value, a supply voltage value and a minimum supply voltage value.

According to one embodiment, the measurement of the output voltage of the power source is carried out at least following the connection.

According to one embodiment, the measurement of the output voltage of the power source is carried out periodically.

According to one embodiment, the selection is made from a list of sets of values from a standard.

According to one embodiment, the connection interface comprises a circuit able to adapt the power supply supplied by the power source.

According to one embodiment, the method is adapted to USB POWER Delivery technology.

According to one embodiment, the device is powered by the power associated with the set of values chosen.

Another embodiment provides a method of supplying a device by a power source via a connection interface, in which the power supply of the power source is selected according to the selection method previously described.

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Yet another embodiment provides a connection interface comprising a circuit adapted to measure an output voltage of a power source to select one or more sets of values characterizing an electric power of the power source as a function of said measured output voltage.

According to one embodiment, the interface is adapted to implement the selection method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

According to one embodiment, the interface further comprises a voltage conversion circuit.

According to one embodiment, the measurement circuit is part of a control module.

According to one embodiment, the control module comprises a logic circuit.

According to one embodiment, the control module comprises a temperature measurement circuit and / or a power test circuit.

Brief description of the drawings

These characteristics and advantages, as well as others, will be explained in detail in the following description of particular embodiments made without implied limitation in relation to the attached figures, among which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a connection between a power source and an electronic device;

Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an electronic device for verifying the state of the power source of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of an electronic device for verifying the state of the power source of Figure 1; and FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating yet another one embodiment of an electronic device

B16668 - 17-GR2-0065FR01 used to check the status of the power source in Figure 1.

detailed description

The same elements have been designated by the same references in the different figures. For the sake of clarity, only the elements useful for understanding the described embodiments have been shown and are detailed. In particular, the management of a negotiation phase concerning the power supply to be supplied between a device and a power source is not detailed.

In addition, only the relevant aspects of USB-C and USB-PD technologies will be described, the other aspects adapting without modification.

Unless specified otherwise, the expressions approximately, substantially, approximately, and of the order of mean to the nearest 10%, preferably to the nearest 5%.

In the present description, the term connected will be used to denote a direct electrical connection, without an intermediate electronic component, for example by means of a conductive track, and the term coupled or the term connected, to denote either a direct electrical connection (meaning then connected) or a link via one or more intermediate components (resistor, capacitor, etc.).

One of the lines of research for improving connection cables is the development and improvement of universal cables allowing both the exchange of energy and the exchange of data between electronic devices of all kinds, such as example USB-C type cables equipped with USB-PD technology. The present description relates to the function of energy transfer via a cable of this type and more particularly to the adaptation of the electric power supplied by a power source according to the needs of the electronic device which is connected to it, namely USB technology. -PD. Thus, the function of exchanging data via a cable of this type will not be described in this request.

B16668 - 17-GR2-0065FR01

Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a transmission of energy between a power source (SOURCE) 200 and an electronic device (SINK) 400 connected via a cable C, for example of USB-C type equipped USB-PD or USB Power Delivery technology. The power source 200 is for example the sector or a continuous power supply. The power source 200 can be a computer, a portable battery, etc. or any other electronic device suitable for supplying a device and / or recharging a battery.

The cable C comprises, at each of its ends a connector Cl, C2 adapted to the USB-PD technology. The connectors Cl, C2 are generally identical.

The power source 200, respectively the device 400, comprises a connection element 210, respectively 410, comprising a connector 212, respectively 412, and a connection interface 214, respectively 414. Each connector 212, 412 is adapted to cooperate with a connector C1, C2 of the cable C. Each connection interface 214, 414 connects the connector 212, 214 to the rest of the power source 200, of the device 400. The connection interfaces 214, 414 make it possible to adapt the power of power supplied by the power source 200 as a function of the power demanded by the device 400. During a connection, communication is established between the device 400 and the power source 200 to decide on the electrical power supply necessary for the device 400 to be able to be supplied and / or recharged. More particularly, the device 400 indicates the minimum power required for its operation and the power source 200 indicates the power supply that it is capable of supplying. Negotiation, managed by USB-PD technology, then begins to define what power the power source 200 will supply to the device 400. Once this negotiation is complete, the connection interface 214, 414 adapts the voltage and the current from power source 200

B16668 - 17-GR2-0065FR01 in accordance with the negotiation result, then power to device 400 begins.

To indicate which powers the power source 200 is capable of supplying, the connection interface 214, 414 performs a comparison between a set of values characterizing the power supplied by the power source 200 (voltage, current, minimum voltage, etc.) and sets of values characterizing power supplies of a pre-established list stored in the circuits of the connection interfaces 214, 414. This list is programmed in the circuits of the interfaces and is for example pre-established by a standard.

The set of values characterizing the power supplied by the power source 200 is generally programmed in the power source. However, the set of measured values characterizing the power supplied by the power source 200 depends on other parameters, for example environmental parameters such as temperature, or also on the state (in use or not) of the device serving power supply. Thus, under certain conditions, the supply source 200 can supply a list of sets of values characterizing supply powers comprising one or more sets of values that the source is not really capable of supplying. There is therefore a need to ensure the validity of the list of sets of values characterizing a supply power that a supply source 200 is capable of supplying.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a first embodiment of an electronic device 10 included in the connection interface 214, 414 of the power source 200 and of the device 400. More particularly, a device 10 is positioned in each connection interface of the electronic devices connected by the cable C, but this device 10 is only active in the connection interface of the device acting as a power source, in the case

B16668 - 17-GR2-0065FR01 illustrated in FIG. 1, only the device 10 of the connection interface 214 is active.

The device 10 comprises at least two input terminals connected to the cable C. A first terminal receives an output voltage Vsource from the power source 200 referenced with respect to a reference potential GND, for example ground, received by a second terminal. The device 10 further comprises a first output terminal providing a supply voltage λ / bus, referenced with respect to the reference potential GND received by a second output terminal, and at least one communication terminal. These output terminals are all connected to the connector C1, C2 which then allows the connection with the power source 200 or the device 400. In this embodiment, the device 10 comprises two communication terminals CCI, CC2. An advantage of having two communication terminals is that, in the case where these terminals are positioned symmetrically on the connector C1, C2, this makes it possible to manufacture reversible connectors, that is to say connectors, for example rectangular, which can be connected in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first.

The device 10 consists of a converter (C01W1) 12, a switch SW1 and a control module (Ml) 14.

The converter 12 is for example a buck converter adapted to convert a voltage λ / DC source into a lower DC supply voltage, for example when the power source 200 is a DC power source, for example an electronic device suitable for powering and / or recharging another electronic device, such as a computer or an external battery. The converter 12 includes:

an input terminal Cl-IN receiving the voltage λ / source;

a terminal C1-GND receiving the reference potential GND;

B16668 - 17-GR2-0065ER01 a Cl-DRIVE control terminal; and an output terminal Cl-OUT providing a converted voltage Vsc to one of the terminals of the switch SW1.

The switch SW1 has one of its terminals connected to the output terminal Cl-OUT of the converter 12, and its other terminal is connected to the output terminal supplying the supply voltage Vbus. The switch SW1 is controlled by the control module 14.

The control module 14 consists of a voltage measurement circuit and a logic circuit. The control module 14 includes:

an input terminal Ml-IN receiving the voltage Vsource;

a terminal Ml-GND receiving the reference potential GND;

at least one communication terminal connected to the communication terminal of the device 10 (in the case illustrated in FIG. 2, the control module 14 comprises two communication terminals Ml-CCI, M1-CC2);

a control terminal Ml-DRIVE of the converter 12, transmitting a control signal to the terminal Cl-DRIVE of the converter 12; and a control terminal M1-SW1 of the switch SW1 transmitting a control signal to the switch SW1.

An embodiment of the method for selecting a supply and supply power of a device 400 using this device 10 will now be described.

When an electronic device 4 is connected to a power source 200 via a cable C, the device 400 sends to the power source 200, via the communication terminals CCI, CC2, information concerning the power supply necessary to supply it. The control module 14, for its part, performs, via its measurement circuit, a measurement of the output voltage Vsource of the power source 200. The switch SW1 is then open.

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The logic circuit of the control module 14 then establishes the power supplies that the power source 200 is capable of supplying to the device 400. For this, the logic circuit includes a memory space comprising a list of power supplies, each defined by several values, for example supply current, supply voltage, minimum supply current, minimum supply voltage etc. This list is pre-established and is defined for example by a standard. The logic circuit uses the measured source voltage Vs to determine which power supply the power source 200 is capable of supplying, for example by comparing the measured voltage with each minimum supply voltage of the powers in the list.

Once the list of powers that the source is capable of supplying established, the control module 14 negotiates with the device 400 to choose a power supply via the communication terminals CCI, CC2.

The value of the supply voltage Vsc associated with the selected supply power is then sent to the control terminal of the converter 12. The converter 12 then converts the voltage Vsource to this new value Vsc. The switch SW1 is then closed. The converted voltage Vsc then becomes the supply voltage λ / bus.

The measurement of the voltage Vsource by the control module 14 can be carried out periodically in addition to being carried out at each connection.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a second embodiment of an electronic device 20 included in a connection interface 214, 414 of the power source 200 and of the device 400.

The device 20 is similar to the device 10 described in relation to FIG. 2 and includes the same input terminals and the same output terminals as the device 10. Thus, the device 20 comprises a converter (CONV2) 22 similar to the converter 12 described in connection with FIG. 2, a

B16668 - 17-GR2-0065FR01 switch SW2 identical to the switch SW1 described in relation to FIG. 1, and a control module (M2) 24 similar to the control module 14 described in relation to FIG. 2.

The converter 22 includes:

an C2-IN input terminal receiving the Vsource voltage;

a C2-GND terminal receiving the GND reference potential;

a C2-DRIVE control terminal; and an output terminal C2-OUT providing a converted voltage Vsc to one of the terminals of the switch SW2.

The switch SW2 has one of its terminals connected to the output terminal C2-OUT of the converter 22, and its other terminal is connected to the output terminal of the device 20 supplying the supply voltage λ / bus. The switch SW2 is controlled by the control module 24.

The control module 24 is of the type of the control module 14 but does not include a circuit for measuring the output voltage Vsource of the power source 200, instead the module 24 includes a circuit for measuring the ambient temperature and more particularly the temperature of the power source 200 at the interface 214, 414 and the connector 212, 412.

Thus, the control module 24 includes:

an M2-GND terminal receiving the GND reference potential;

at least one communication terminal connected to the communication terminal (in the case illustrated in FIG. 3, the control module 24 comprises two communication terminals M2-CC1, M2CC2);

a control terminal M2-DRIA / E of the converter 22, transmitting a control signal to the terminal C2-DRIA / E of the converter 22; and a control terminal M2-SW2 of the switch SW2 transmitting a control signal to the switch SW2.

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An embodiment of the method for selecting a supply and supply power of a device 400 using this device 20 will now be described.

When an electronic device 4 is connected to a power source 200 via a cable G, the device 400 sends information to the power source 200 about the power supply necessary to supply it, by via the communication terminals CCI, CC2. The control module 24, for its part, performs, via its temperature measurement circuit, a measurement of the temperature of the power source 200. The switch SW2 is then open.

The logic circuit of the control module 24 then establishes the power supplies that the power source 200 is capable of supplying to the device 400. For this, the logic circuit verifies that the measured temperature of the source is included in an interval defined by example by standard. The logic circuit of the control module 24 then selects from the list pre-established by the standard the power supplies that the power source 200 is capable of supplying at the measured temperature.

The control module 24 negotiates with the device 400 to choose a power supply via the communication terminals CCI, CC2. The value of the supply voltage Vsc associated with the supply power is then sent to the control terminal C2-DRIVE of the converter 22. The converter 22 then converts the voltage Vsource to the new value Vsc. The switch SW2 is then closed. The converted voltage Vsc then becomes the supply voltage λ / bus.

The temperature measurement by the control module 24 can be carried out periodically in addition to being carried out at each connection.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a third embodiment of an electronic device 30

B16668 - 17-GR2-0065FR01 included in the connection interfaces ICI, IC2 of the power source 200 and the device 400. In this embodiment, the power source 200 is for example a voltage and current source alternative, like the sector. In this case, the voltage Vsource supplied to the device 30 is a direct voltage already rectified by an upstream rectifier circuit, not described here.

The device 30 is similar to the devices 10 and 20 described respectively in relation to FIGS. 2 and 3 and comprises the same input terminals and the same output terminals as the devices 10 and 20. Thus, the device 20 comprises a converter ( CONV3) 32 similar to the converters CONV1 and CONV2 described in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2, a switch SW3 identical to the switches SW1 and SW2 described in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2, and a control module (M3) 34 similar to the modules M1 and M2 control unit described in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The converter 32 includes:

an C3-IN input terminal receiving the Vsource voltage;

a C3-GND terminal receiving the GND reference potential;

a C3-DRIVE control terminal; and an output terminal C3-OUT providing a converted voltage Vsc to one of the terminals of the switch SW3.

The switch SW3 has one of its terminals connected to the output terminal C3-OUT of the converter 32, and its other terminal is connected to the output terminal of the device 30 supplying the supply voltage λ / bus. The switch SW3 is controlled by the control module 34.

The control module 34 consists of a power test circuit and a logic circuit. The control module 34 includes:

two communication terminals M3-CC1, M3-CC2, each connected to the communication terminals CCI, CC2;

B16668 - 17-GR2-0065FR01 a control terminal M3-SW3 of the switch SW3 supplying a converted voltage Vsc to the switch SW3;

a control terminal M3-DRIVE transmitting a control signal to the converter 32, via an optocoupler not shown in FIG. 4;

a verification terminal M3-VERIF adapted to receive the converted voltage Vsc; and an earth terminal M3-GND receiving the reference potential GND.

An embodiment of the method for selecting a supply and supply power of a device 400 using this device 20 will now be described.

When an electronic device 4 is connected to a power source 200 via a cable C, the device 400 sends to the power source 200, via the communication terminals CCI, CC2, information concerning the power supply necessary to supply it. The SW3 switch is open.

The logic circuit of the control module 34 then establishes the power supplies that the power source 200 is capable of supplying to the device 400. For this, the test circuit of the control module 34 tests each power supply defined in the list pre-established by the standard in order to determine if the power source is capable of supplying it. The powers that the power source 200 is unable to supply are deselected from the list and the others are selected to be proposed to the device 400 during negotiation. To carry out the test, the control module 34 measures the value of the voltage Vsc via its terminal M3-VERIF and deduces therefrom the command to be sent to the converter CONV3.

Negotiation between the device 400 and the power source 200 is then carried out to decide on a value of power supply to be supplied. Once a power supply has been chosen, the control module 34

B16668 - 17-GR2-0065FR01 transmits this information to converter 22 via the optocoupler. The optocoupler makes it possible to measure the value of the voltage Vsource.

The voltage Vsource is then converted into the voltage Vsc by the converter 22 to correspond to the expected value 5. The switch SW3 is then closed to transmit the supply voltage Vsc which is then equal to the voltage λ / bus chosen.

Particular embodiments have been described. Various variants and modifications will appear to those skilled in the art. In particular, it is possible to combine the embodiments of Figures 2, 3 and 4, i.e. to add a voltage measurement circuit, a temperature measurement circuit and / or a test circuit of power to devices 10, 20 and 30.

Various embodiments with various variants have been described above. Note that those skilled in the art can combine various elements of these various embodiments and variants without showing inventive step.

Claims (15)

1. Method for selecting one or more sets of values characterizing an electrical power from a power source (200) capable of powering a device (400) via a connection interface (214, 414), in which the selection is made as a function of an output voltage (Vsource) of the power source (200) measured at the connection interface (214, 414). 2. The selection method according to claim 1, wherein said sets of values include at least one supply current value, a supply voltage value and a minimum supply voltage value. 3. Selection method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the measurement of the output voltage (Vsource) of the power source (200) is carried out at least following the connection. 4. Selection method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the measurement of the output voltage (Vsource) of the power source (200) is carried out periodically. 5. A selection method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the selection is made from a list of sets of values from a standard. 6. selection method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connection interface (214, 414) comprises a circuit (12) adapted to adapt the power supply supplied by the power source ( 200). 7. Selection method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, adapted to USB POWER Delivery technology. 8. Selection method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the device (400) is powered by the power associated with the set of values chosen. 9. A method of supplying a device (400) with a supply source (200) via a connection interface (214, 414), in which the supply power of the source B16668 - 17-GR2-0065FR01 feed (200) is selected according to the selection method according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. Connection interface comprising a circuit adapted to measure an output voltage (Vsource) of a power source (200) to select one or more sets of values characterizing an electric power of the power source (200) function of said output voltage (Vsource) measured. 11. Connection interface adapted to implement the selection method according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 12. Connection interface according to claim 11, further comprises a voltage conversion circuit (12). 13. Connection interface according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the measurement circuit is part of a control module (14). 14. Connection interface according to claim 13, in which the control module (14) comprises a logic circuit. 15. Connection interface according to any one of claims 9 to 14, in which the control module (14) comprises a temperature measurement circuit and / or a power test circuit.