TWI668549B - Power supply capable of adjusting output voltage and operating system utilizing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A power supply capable of adjusting an output voltage for supplying power to a port of a motherboard, and comprising a voltage generator, a first power path, a second power path, a detecting circuit, and a switching circuit. The voltage generator is configured to generate a first voltage, a second voltage, a third voltage, and a fourth voltage. The first power path is configured to transmit a first voltage to a first pin of the port. The second power path is configured to transmit a second voltage to a second pin of the port. The detection circuit detects the voltage of a third pin of the connection port to generate a detection signal. The switch circuit provides a third power path or a fourth power path according to the detection signal. The third power path is configured to transmit a third voltage to the third pin. The fourth power path is configured to transmit a fourth voltage to the third pin.

Description

 Power supply and operating system with adjustable output voltage  

The present invention relates to a power supply, and more particularly to a power supply that can adjust an output voltage.

Conventional power supplies convert AC voltage to DC voltage and provide it to an external device, such as a motherboard. However, the number of output voltages of the power supply is fixed and cannot satisfy all the motherboards. For example, assume that a power supply has a fixed output of 4 sets of 3.3V, 5 sets of 5V, and 2 sets of 12V. If a motherboard requires 7 sets of 3.3V, the power supply cannot meet the requirements of the motherboard.

The present invention provides a power supply capable of adjusting an output voltage for supplying power to a connection port of a motherboard, and includes a voltage generator, a first power supply path, a second power supply path, and a first detection circuit. And a first switching circuit. The voltage generator is configured to generate a first voltage, a second voltage, a third voltage, and a fourth voltage. The first power path is configured to transmit a first voltage to a first pin of the port. The second power path is configured to transmit a second voltage to a second pin of the port. The first detecting circuit detects the voltage of a third pin of the connection port to generate a first detection signal. The first switching circuit provides a third power path or a fourth power path according to the first detection signal. The third power path is configured to transmit a third voltage to the third pin. The fourth power path is configured to transmit a fourth voltage to the third pin.

The invention further provides an operating system comprising a motherboard and a power supply capable of adjusting an output voltage. The motherboard includes a port. The port has a first pin, a second pin and a third pin. The power supply with adjustable output voltage is used for supplying power to the motherboard, and includes a voltage generator, a first power path, a second power path, a first detecting circuit and a first switching circuit. The voltage generator is configured to generate a first voltage, a second voltage, a third voltage, and a fourth voltage. The first power path is configured to transmit the first voltage to the first pin. The second power path is configured to transmit a second voltage to the second pin. The first detecting circuit detects the voltage of the third pin to generate a first detecting signal. The first switching circuit provides a third power path or a fourth power path according to the first detection signal. The third power path is configured to transmit a third voltage to the third pin. The fourth power path is configured to transmit a fourth voltage to the third pin.

100, 200‧‧‧ operating system

110, 210‧‧‧ Power supply

120, 220‧‧‧ motherboard

121, 221‧‧‧ Connections

OP1~OP5‧‧‧ operating voltage

111, 211‧‧‧ voltage generator

112, 212, 214, 112A, 112B‧‧‧ switch circuit

113, 213, 215, 113A, 113B‧‧‧ detection circuit

114~117, 216~222‧‧‧ power path

V1~V7, V _P13 , PS1~PS3‧‧‧ voltage

P11~P13, P21~P25‧‧‧ pins

S _D1 ~S _D4 ‧‧‧Detection signal

SW1, SW2, 411~414, 421~424‧‧‧ switch

118, 340‧‧‧Signal Generator

310, 320‧‧ ‧ voltage divider

330‧‧‧ Comparator

V _D1 , V _D2 ‧ ‧ partial pressure

R1~R5‧‧‧ resistance

GND‧‧‧ Grounding voltage

341‧‧‧ Pull-up components

T1~T9‧‧‧O crystal

ND‧‧‧ output node

C1, C2‧‧‧ energy storage components

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the operating system of the present invention.

Figure 2 is another schematic diagram of the operating system of the present invention.

Figure 3A is a possible embodiment of the detection circuit of Figure 1.

Figure 3B is another possible embodiment of the detection circuit of the present invention.

Figure 4A is a possible embodiment of the switching circuit of Figure 1.

Figure 4B is another possible embodiment of the switching circuit of the present invention.

In order to make the objects, features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, the embodiments of the invention are described in detail below. The present specification provides various embodiments to illustrate the technical features of various embodiments of the present invention. The arrangement of the various elements in the embodiments is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the invention. In addition, the overlapping portions of the drawings in the embodiments are for the purpose of simplifying the description, and do not mean the relationship between the different embodiments.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the operating system of the present invention. As shown, the operating system 100 includes a power supply 110 and a motherboard 120. The motherboard 120 receives and operates in accordance with the voltage generated by the power supply 110. In a possible embodiment, the motherboard 120 has a port 121. The port 121 is coupled to the power supply 110 for receiving the voltage generated by the power supply 110 and using the received voltage as the operating voltages OP1 and OP2 for providing other components (not shown) of the motherboard 120. The internal components of the motherboard 120 operate in accordance with the operating voltages OP1 and OP2. In the present embodiment, FIG. 1 only shows elements related to the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. The motherboard 120 still has other hardware components, which are not described herein.

The power supply 110 supplies power to the port 121 of the motherboard 120 and can adjust the amount of output voltage. As shown, the power supply 110 includes a voltage generator 111, a switch circuit 112, a detection circuit 113, and power paths 114-117. In this embodiment, the voltage generator 111 is used to generate voltages V1 VV4. The present invention does not limit the number of voltages generated by the voltage generator 111. In other embodiments, voltage generator 111 may generate less or more voltages. In the present embodiment, the voltage V1 is different from the voltage V2. In a possible embodiment, the voltage V1 is 3.3V and the voltage V2 is 5V. In another possible embodiment, voltages V3 and V4 are not equal to voltages V1 and V2. In other embodiments, voltage V3 is equal to voltage V1 and voltage V4 is equal to voltage V2.

The power path 114 is used to transmit the voltage V1 to a pin P11 of the port 121. The pin P11 receives the voltage V1 and supplies the voltage V1 to the other elements of the motherboard 120 as the operating voltage OP1. The power path 115 is used to transmit the voltage V2 to a pin P12 of the port 121. The pin P12 receives the voltage V2 and supplies the voltage V2 to the other elements of the motherboard 120 as the operating voltage OP2. In the embodiment, when the power supply 110 is coupled to the motherboard 120, the power supply 110 continuously supplies the voltages V1 and V2 to the motherboard 120.

The detecting circuit 113 detects the voltage of a pin P13 of the port 121 for generating a detecting signal S _D1 . The designer of the motherboard 120 can electrically connect the pin P13 to the pin P11 or P12 according to the power requirement of the motherboard. For example, assume that the voltage V1 received by the pin P11 is 3.3V, and the voltage V1 received by the pin P12 is 5V. In this example, if the motherboard 120 requires more 3.3V, the designer can electrically connect the pin P13 to the pin P11. Conversely, if the motherboard 120 requires more 5V, the designer can electrically connect the pin P13 to the pin P12. The detecting circuit 113 can know the voltage required by the motherboard 120 according to the voltage of the pin P13, so that the detecting circuit S _D1 can be used to control the switch circuit 112 to output an appropriate voltage to the pin P13. In other embodiments, if the motherboard 120 requires more 3.3V, the designer can electrically connect the pin P13 to the pin P12. Similarly, if the motherboard 120 requires more 5V, the designer can electrically connect the pin P13 to the pin P11.

The switch circuit 112 provides a power path 116 or 117 based on the detection signal S _D1 . In a possible embodiment, the switch circuit 112 includes switches SW1 and SW2. When the detection signal S _D1 turns on the switch SW1, the power path 116 between the voltage generator 111 and the pin P13 is turned on, and the voltage V3 is transmitted to the pin P13 through the power path 116. When the detection signal S _D1 turns on the switch SW2, the power path 117 between the voltage generator 111 and the pin P13 is turned on, and the voltage V4 is transmitted to the pin P13 through the power path 117. In this embodiment, the switches SW1 and SW2 are not turned on at the same time. In other embodiments, the switch circuit 112 has more switches, each switch for delivering a suitable voltage to the motherboard 120.

In the above embodiment, the switches SW1 and SW2 are controlled by the same signal (e.g., S _D1 ), but are not intended to limit the present invention. In other embodiments, switches SW1 and SW2 may be controlled by two signals. In this example, power supply 110 further includes a signal generator 118. The signal generator 118 generates a detection signal S _D2 according to the detection signal S _D1 . The detection signal S _{D1 is} used to turn on or off the switch SW1. The detection signal S _{D2 is} used to turn on or off the switch SW2.

The detection signal S _{D1 is} inverted to the detection signal S _D2 . For example, when the detection signal S _D1 is at a high level, the detection signal S _D2 is at a low level. However, when the detection signal S _D1 is at a low level, the detection signal S _D2 is at a high level. Therefore, when the switch SW1 is turned on, the switch SW2 is not turned on. Similarly, when the switch SW1 is not turned on, the switch SW2 is turned on.

Figure 2 is another possible embodiment of the operating system of the present invention. Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1 except that the power supply 210 of Figure 2 provides more voltage to the motherboard 220. In the present embodiment, the port 221 of the motherboard 220 has pins P21 to P25, but is not intended to limit the present invention. In other embodiments, the port 221 has fewer or more pins. As shown in the figure, the pin P22 is electrically connected to the pin P25. The pin P23 is electrically connected to the pin P24.

The power supply 210 includes a voltage generator 211, switch circuits 212, 214, detection circuits 213, 215, and power paths 216-222. The voltage generator 211 generates voltages V1 to V7. In a possible embodiment, the voltages V1 to V3 are different. In another possible embodiment, the voltages V1 V V3 are the same. In other embodiments, voltage V4 may be the same as one of voltages V1 - V3. In this example, the voltage V5 may be the same as the other of the voltages V1 to V3. In some embodiments, voltage V6 may be the same as one of voltages V1 - V3. In this example, voltage V7 may be the same as the other of voltages V1 to V3.

The power path 216 transmits the voltage V1 to the pin P21. The pin P21 uses the voltage V1 as the operating voltage OP3 and is supplied to other components of the motherboard 220. The power path 217 transmits the voltage V2 to the pin P22. The pin P22 uses the voltage V2 as the operating voltage OP4 and is supplied to other components of the motherboard 220. The power path 218 transmits the voltage V3 to the pin P23. The pin P23 uses the voltage V3 as the operating voltage OP5 and is supplied to other components of the motherboard 220. In this embodiment, the power paths 216-218 continue to transmit voltages V1 to V3. Therefore, when the power supply 210 is coupled to the port 221, the pins P21 to P23 can immediately receive the voltages V1 to V3.

The detecting circuit 213 generates a detecting signal S _D3 according to the voltage of the pin P24. The switch circuit 212 turns on the power path 219 or 220 according to the detection signal S _D3 . The power path 219 transmits the voltage V4 to the pin P24. The power path 220 is used to transmit the voltage V5 to the pin P24. Since the characteristics of the detecting circuit 213 are the same as those of the switch circuit 112 of FIG. 1, they will not be described again.

The detecting circuit 215 detects the voltage of the pin P25 of the port 221 to generate a detecting signal S _D4 . The switch circuit 214 turns on the power path 221 or 222 according to the detection signal S _D4 . The power path 221 is used to transmit the voltage V6 to the pin P25. The power path 222 is used to transmit the voltage V7 to the pin P25. In one possible embodiment, voltage V6 is the same as one of voltages V4 and V5. In this example, voltage V7 may also be the same as the other of voltages V4 and V5.

In other embodiments, the signal generator 118 of Figure 1 can also be applied to Figure 2. In this example, power supply 210 may have a first signal generator (not shown) and a second signal generator. The first signal generator generates a first inverted signal according to the detection signal S _D3 . The switch circuit 212 outputs the voltage V4 or V5 to the pin P24 according to the detection signal S _D3 and the first inverted signal. In addition, the second signal generator generates a second inverted signal according to the detection signal S _D4 . The switch circuit 214 outputs the voltage V6 or V7 to the pin P25 according to the detection signal S _D4 and the second inverted signal.

Figure 3A is a possible embodiment of the detection circuit of Figure 1. The detection circuit of Figure 3A can also be applied to Figure 2. The detection circuit 113A includes voltage dividers 310, 320 and a comparator 330. The voltage divider 310 generates a divided voltage V _D1 according to the voltage V _P13 of the pin P13 of the connection port 121 on the motherboard 120. In the present embodiment, voltage divider 310 includes resistors R1 and R2. The resistor R1 is connected in series with the resistor R2 between the voltage V _P13 and the ground voltage GND.

The voltage divider 320 generates a divided voltage V _D2 according to a voltage PS1. In a possible embodiment, the voltage PS1 is generated by the voltage generator 111 of FIG. The voltage PS1 may be the same as one of the voltages V1 to V2 or different from the voltages V1 and V2. In the present embodiment, voltage divider 320 includes resistors R3 and R4. The resistor R3 is connected in series with the resistor R4 between the voltage PS1 and the ground voltage GND.

The comparator 330 compares the divided voltages V _D1 and V _D2 for generating the detection signal S _D1 . In the present embodiment, the non-inverting input of the comparator 330 receives the divided voltage V _D1 , and the inverting input of the comparator 330 receives the divided voltage V _D2 . When the divided voltage V _{D1 is} greater than the divided voltage V _D2 , the level of the detection signal S _D1 is approximately equal to the voltage PS2. In a possible embodiment, voltage PS2 is generated by voltage generator 111. In this example, voltage PS2 may be greater than voltages V1 and V2, but is not intended to limit the invention. In other embodiments, voltage PS2 is approximately equal to voltage V1 or V2. When the divided voltage V _{D1 is} smaller than the divided voltage V _D2 , the level of the detection signal S _D1 is approximately equal to the ground voltage GND.

In another possible embodiment, the voltage divider 310 further includes an energy storage component C1. The energy storage component C1 is connected in parallel with the resistor R2 for controlling the delay time of the divided voltage V _D1 . In this example, the energy storage component C1 can prevent the comparator 330 from generating an incorrect detection signal S _D1 . In a possible embodiment, the energy storage component C1 is a capacitor.

Figure 3B is another possible embodiment of the detection circuit of the present invention. Figure 3B is similar to Figure 3A except that a signal generator 340 is added to Figure 3B. In other embodiments, signal generator 340 is independent of detection circuit 113B. The signal generator 340 generates the detection signal S _D2 according to the detection signal S _D1 . The detection signal S _{D1 is} inverted to the detection signal S _D2 .

The signal generator 340 includes a pull-up element 341 and a transistor T1. The pull-up element 341 receives a voltage PS3 and is coupled to an output node ND for pulling up the voltage of the output node ND to the voltage PS3. In the present embodiment, the pull-up element 341 is a resistor R5.

The transistor T1 is coupled to the output node ND and receives the detection signal S _D1 . The transistor T1 acts as a pull-down element for pulling down the voltage of the output node ND to the ground voltage GND. For example, when the detection signal S _D1 is at a high level, the transistor T1 is turned on. Therefore, the voltage of the output node ND is equal to the ground voltage GND, that is, the detection signal S _D2 is at a low level. When the detection signal S _D1 is at a low level, the transistor T1 is not turned on. Therefore, the voltage of the output node ND is equal to the voltage PS3, that is, the detection signal S _D2 is at a high level. In a possible embodiment, voltage PS3 is equal to voltage PS2. For example, the voltages PS2 and PS3 are both +12V. In other embodiments, voltage PS3 is not equal to voltage PS2. In this example, voltage PS3 may be the same as voltage V1 or V2 or different from voltages V1 and V2.

In another embodiment, the signal generator 340 further includes an energy storage component C2. The energy storage component C2 is coupled to the output node ND to prevent the detection signal S _D2 from being the same level as the detection signal S _D1 . In a possible embodiment, the energy storage component C2 is a capacitor. In this case, the capacitance of the capacitor is approximately 560u.

Figure 4A is a possible embodiment of the switching circuit of Figure 1. The switching circuit of Fig. 4A can also be applied to Fig. 2. The switch circuit 112A includes switches 411 to 414. As shown, power path 116 has switches 411 and 412. The switch 411 is coupled to the switch 412 and receives the voltage V3. The switch 412 is coupled between the switch 411 and the pin P13. Power path 117 has switches 413 and 414. Switch 413 is coupled to switch 414 and receives voltage V4. The switch 414 is coupled between the switch 413 and the pin P13.

When the detection signal S _D1 is at a first level (such as a low level), the switches 411 and 412 are turned on, and the switches 413 and 414 are not turned on. Therefore, the power path 116 transmits the voltage V3 to the pin P13. When the detection signal S _D1 is at a second level (such as a high level), the switches 411 and 412 are not turned on, and the switches 413 and 414 are turned on. Therefore, the power supply path 117 transmits the voltage V4 to the pin P13.

The present invention does not limit the types of switches 411 to 414. In the present embodiment, switches 411 and 412 are P-type transistors T2 and T3, respectively, and switches 413 and 414 are N-type transistors T4 and T5, respectively, but are not intended to limit the present invention. In other embodiments, switches 411 and 412 are N-type transistors, and switches 413 and 414 are P-type transistors.

In some embodiments, power path 116 may have more or fewer switches. Likewise, power path 117 may have more or fewer switches. The number of switches of power path 116 may be the same or different than the number of switches of power path 117. Additionally, switches 412 and 414 may be omitted. In this example, power path 116 has only a single switch 411, and power path 117 also has only a single switch 413.

Figure 4B is another possible embodiment of the switching circuit of Figure 1. Figure 4B is similar to Figure 4A, except that switches 421-424 are all of the same type of transistor, such as N-type transistors T6-T9, but are not intended to limit the invention. In other embodiments, switches 421-424 may all be P-type transistors. In addition, the switch circuit 112B transmits the voltage V3 or V4 to the pin P13 according to the detection signals S _D1 and S _D2 .

In this embodiment, when the detection signal S _D1 is at a first level (such as a low level) and the detection signal S _D2 is at a second level (such as a high level), the switches 421 and 422 are turned on and the switch 423 And 424 does not conduct. Therefore, the power path 116 transmits the voltage V3 to the pin P13. However, when the detection signal S _D1 is at the second level (eg, high level) and the detection signal S _D2 is at the first level (eg, low level), the switches 421 and 422 are not turned on and the switches 423 and 424 are turned on. Therefore, the power supply path 117 transmits the voltage V3 to the pin P13.

Since the power supply of the present invention provides basic voltage (such as a 3.3V and a 5V) to the motherboard, it can provide additional voltage (such as at least one 3.3V, according to the level of the pins on the motherboard). At least one 5V or one 3.3V and one 5V) is given to the motherboard, so it can meet the power requirements of the motherboard. Therefore, the designer can command the external power supply to supply the required power by setting the level of a specific pin (such as pin P13 in Figure 1) according to the component characteristics on the motherboard.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are used in the ordinary meaning Moreover, unless expressly stated, the definition of a vocabulary in a general dictionary should be interpreted as consistent with the meaning of an article in its related art, and should not be interpreted as an ideal state or an overly formal voice.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. . For example, the system, apparatus or method of the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a physical embodiment of a combination of hardware, software or hardware and software. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (12)

A power supply capable of adjusting an output voltage for supplying power to a connection port of a motherboard, and comprising: a voltage generator for generating a first voltage, a second voltage, a third voltage, and a first a first voltage path for transmitting the first voltage to a first pin of the port; a second power path for transmitting the second voltage to a second pin of the port a first detecting circuit for detecting a voltage of a third pin of the port for generating a first detecting signal; and a first switching circuit for turning a third according to the first detecting signal The power path or a fourth power path, wherein when the third power path is turned on, the third power path continuously transmits the third voltage to the third pin, when the fourth power path is turned on, The fourth power path continuously transmits the fourth voltage to the third pin. The power supply of the adjustable output voltage according to claim 1, wherein the first voltage is different from the second voltage, the third voltage is the same as the first voltage, and the fourth voltage is the same as the first Two voltages. The power supply of the adjustable output voltage according to the first aspect of the patent application, further comprising: a second detecting circuit for detecting a voltage of a fourth pin of the connecting port to generate a second detecting Measuring signal a second switching circuit, configured to provide a fifth power path or a sixth power path according to the second detection signal, wherein the fifth power path is configured to transmit a fifth voltage to the fourth pin, the sixth The power path is configured to transmit a sixth voltage to the fourth pin. The power supply of the adjustable output voltage according to claim 3, wherein the fifth voltage is the same or different from the sixth voltage. The power supply of the adjustable output voltage according to the first aspect of the patent application, further comprising: a signal generator, generating a second detection signal according to the first detection signal, wherein the first switching circuit is configured according to the The first detection signal provides the third power path for transmitting the third voltage to the third pin, and the fourth power supply path is provided according to the second detection signal, for transmitting the fourth voltage to the The third pin. The power supply of the adjustable output voltage according to claim 5, wherein the third voltage is different from the fourth voltage. The power supply of the adjustable output voltage according to claim 5, wherein the first detection signal is inverted to the second detection signal. The power supply of the adjustable output voltage according to claim 5, wherein the signal generator comprises: a pull-up element, receiving an operating voltage, and coupled to an output node; a transistor coupled to the Outputting a node and receiving the first detection signal; and an energy storage component coupled to the output node. Power supply for adjustable output voltage as described in item 1 of the patent application The first detecting circuit includes: a first voltage divider, generating a first partial voltage according to the voltage of the third pin; and a second voltage divider generating a second according to a fifth voltage a voltage divider; a comparator that compares the first divided voltage and the second divided voltage to generate the first detected signal, wherein the fifth voltage is generated by the voltage generator and is equal to the first voltage or The second voltage. The power supply of the adjustable output voltage according to claim 9 , wherein when the first partial pressure is greater than the second partial pressure, the level of the first detection signal is equal to a specific voltage, the specific The voltage is greater than the first voltage and the second voltage. An operating system includes: a motherboard including a port, the port having a first pin, a second pin, and a third pin; and a power supply capable of adjusting an output voltage, supplying power to the motherboard The motherboard includes: a voltage generator for generating a first voltage, a second voltage, a third voltage, and a fourth voltage; a first power path for transmitting the first voltage to the a first power supply path for transmitting the second voltage to the second pin; a first detecting circuit detecting the voltage of the third pin for generating a first detection Signal; a first switching circuit, according to the first detection signal, conducting a third power path or a fourth power path, wherein when the third power path is turned on, the third power path continuously transmits the third voltage to The third pin, when the fourth power path is turned on, the fourth power path continuously transmits the fourth voltage to the third pin. The operating system of claim 11, wherein the third pin is electrically connected to the first pin or the second pin.