TWM548368U - Transmission cable - Google Patents

Description

Transmission line

This case is about transmission lines, especially a transmission line with overcurrent protection.

With the advancement of technology, the universal serial bus interface has the function of power transmission in addition to the function of information transmission. In recent years, the universal serial bus (USB) interface has been widely used in many electronic devices, such as mobile phones, tablet computers, mobile power supplies, and the like. Among them, the transmission line with the universal serial bus connector is more indispensable for the electronic device to assist in the data transmission, exchange and/or charging between the electronic device and other electronic devices or the power supply terminal. One of the accessory accessories.

However, in the architecture of a conventional transmission line, only wires are provided without any protection function. Therefore, when an electronic device connected to one of the two connectors of the transmission line is abnormal, for example, when its control system fails or malfunctions, the power supply terminal of the other connector connected to the transmission line initiates overcurrent protection. Moreover, if foreign matter or liquid enters the connector of the transmission line, the temperature of the connector of the transmission line will rise, which may cause the transmission line to be easily destroyed by high temperature. In addition, since the conventional transmission line does not have a light indication, it is not easy for the user to know whether the transmission line can be used normally when using the transmission line.

The present invention provides a transmission line including a first connector, a second connector, a line body, a current sensing unit, a current limiting unit, and a processing unit. The first connector has a first terminal group and is configured to receive a power signal. The second connector has a second terminal group and is configured to output a power supply number. The wire body is connected between the first connector and the second connector. The current sensing unit is coupled to the first terminal group and generates a sensing current according to the power signal. The current limiting unit is coupled to the first terminal group and the second terminal group. The processing unit is disposed on the first connector or the second connector, and is coupled to the first terminal group, the second terminal group, the current sensing unit, and the current limiting unit. When the sensing current exceeds the current threshold, the processing unit causes the current limiting unit to limit the magnitude of the current of the power supply signal to not exceed a selected threshold. Among them, the power supply signal is related to the power signal.

In summary, the transmission line of the present invention senses the current of the power signal by the current sensing unit, and activates the current limiting unit to perform current limiting processing when the current of the power signal exceeds the current threshold to avoid the power supply end. Overcurrent protection. In addition, the transmission line of the present invention further prevents the transmission line and/or its connected electronic device from being burnt due to excessive temperature by temperature sensing of the temperature sensing unit. Furthermore, the transmission line of the present invention is further displayed by the light-emitting element light-numbering unit so that the user can easily know whether the transmission line can be used normally and the corresponding warning message, thereby quickly eliminating the problem.

100‧‧‧ transmission line

110‧‧‧First connector

120‧‧‧Second connector

130‧‧‧Line body

140‧‧‧current sensing unit

141‧‧‧Sensor resistance

142‧‧Amplifier

150‧‧‧ Current limiting unit

160‧‧‧Processing unit

171‧‧‧First lighting unit

172‧‧‧second lighting unit

180‧‧‧First temperature sensing unit

190‧‧‧Second temperature sensing unit

200‧‧‧Power supply

300‧‧‧Electronic devices

D1+‧‧‧First data positive terminal

D1-‧‧‧First data negative terminal

D2+‧‧‧Second data positive terminal

D2-‧‧‧Second data negative terminal

GND1‧‧‧first ground terminal

GND2‧‧‧Second ground terminal

I1‧‧‧Sensing current

Sc‧‧‧ control signal

Sw1‧‧‧ first warning signal

Sw2‧‧‧second warning signal

Vs1‧‧‧ power signal

Vs2‧‧‧Power signal

VBUS1‧‧‧First power terminal

VBUS2‧‧‧second power terminal

1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an electronic system.

2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a transmission line.

3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a transmission line.

1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an electronic system. Referring to FIG. 1 , the electronic system includes a transmission line 100 , a power supply end 200 , and an electronic device 300 . The transmission line 100 is coupled between the power supply terminal 200 and the electronic device 300. Transmission line 100 is used to assist power supply terminal 200 and electronics Power and/or data transmission between devices 300. In an embodiment, the power supply terminal 200 is a power supply device such as a mobile power source, a power adaptor, a car charger, a computer, or a DC power socket. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the power supply terminal 200 can be any suitable for providing power. Device. In an embodiment, the electronic device 300 can be a mobile phone with a micro processing unit (MCU) or a central processing unit (CPU), a tablet computer, or the like, or an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, or a storage device such as a mobile hard disk. This case is not limited to this.

2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a transmission line, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a transmission line. Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the transmission line 100 includes at least two connectors (hereinafter referred to as a first connector 110 and a second connector 120, respectively), a line body 130, a current sensing unit 140, a current limiting unit 150, and processing. Unit 160. The wire body 130 is connected between the first connector 110 and the second connector 120 for signal transmission between the first connector 110 and the second connector 120.

The first connector 110 has a first terminal group, and the first connector 110 can receive the power signal Vs1 via the first terminal group. The second connector 120 has a second terminal group, and the second connector 120 can output the power supply signal Vs2 via the second terminal group. The power supply signal Vs2 is related to the power signal Vs1.

In an embodiment, the first connector 110 and the second connector 120 may be a universal serial bus (USB) connector, such as a USB Type A connector, a USB Type B connector, a USB Type C connector, or the like. .

The current sensing unit 140 is coupled to the first terminal group, and the current sensing unit 140 can generate a corresponding sensing current I1 according to the magnitude of the current of the power signal Vs1 input through the first terminal group.

In an embodiment, the current sensing unit 140 includes a sensing resistor 141 and an amplifier 142. The sensing resistor 141 is coupled to the first connector 110, and the two input ends of the amplifier 142 are respectively coupled to the two ends of the sensing resistor 141. The amplifier 142 is configured to generate a corresponding sensing current I1 according to the voltage drop across the sensing resistor 141 by the power signal Vs1.

The current limiting unit 150 is coupled to the first terminal group and the second terminal group, and the current limiting unit 150 can be used to limit the current magnitude of the power supply signal Vs2 outputted through the second terminal group. The processing unit 160 is coupled to the first terminal group, the second terminal group, the current measuring unit 140, and the current limiting unit 150. The processing unit 160 can determine whether an overcurrent occurs (ie, whether the power supply terminal 200 outputs an excessive current) according to the sensing current I1 and a current threshold. When the processing unit 160 determines that the sensing current I1 exceeds the current threshold, the processing unit 160 may cause the current limiting unit 150 to perform current limiting processing on the power signal Vs1, so that the current of the power supply signal Vs2 outputted through the second terminal group does not exceed A threshold is selected to avoid the power supply terminal 200 from being activated due to the activation of the overcurrent protection mechanism.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 160 can be disposed on the second connector 120 (as shown in FIG. 2) or in the first connector 110 (as shown in FIG. 3).

In one embodiment, the power signal Vs1 can be a voltage of 5 volts (V) and a current of 2 amps (A), but the present invention is not limited thereto. The selected threshold does not exceed the current of the power signal Vs1, and the current of the power signal Vs2 does not exceed the selected threshold.

In an embodiment, the first terminal set of the first connector 110 includes the first power supply terminal VBUS1, and the second terminal set of the second connector 120 includes the second power supply terminal VBUS2. The first power terminal VBUS1 is for receiving the power signal Vs1, and the second power terminal VBUS2 is for outputting the power signal Vs2. The processing unit 160 is electrically coupled to the first power terminal VBUS1 and the second power supply terminal VBUS2. The processing unit 160 can cause the current limiting unit 150 to generate a corresponding power supply signal Vs2 according to the power signal Vs1 received by the first power terminal VBUS1 and a selected threshold.

In an embodiment, the first terminal set of the first connector 110 further includes a first data positive terminal D1+ and a first data negative terminal D1-, and the processing unit 160 is electrically coupled to the first data positive terminal D1+ and the first Data negative terminal D1-. The transmission line 100 can be coupled to the first data negative terminal D1 and the power supply terminal 200 via the first data positive terminal D1+ and transmit data to the coupled power supply terminal 200.

When the first connector 110 is connected to the power supply terminal 200, the processing unit 160 can receive the first transmission data transmitted by the power supply terminal 200 through the first data positive terminal D1+ and the first data negative terminal D1, and according to the first transmission data. To determine the threshold. The first transmission data covers type information of the power supply terminal 200. In other words, the processing unit 160 can identify the type of the power supply terminal 200 according to the first transmission data, and then select a corresponding selected threshold according to the type of the power supply terminal 200 to cause the current limiting unit 150 to limit the power signal Vs1 to the power supply signal Vs2.

In one embodiment, the processing unit 160 performs battery charging specification 1.2 (BC 1.2) determination by the first transmission data received by the first data positive terminal D1+ and the first data negative terminal D1-. For example, when it is determined that the connection port of the power supply terminal 200 is a standard downstream port (SDP), the processing unit 160 may select 0.5 amps as the selected threshold, and cause the current limiting unit 150 to limit the current of the power supply signal Vs2 to not exceed 0.5 amps. When it is determined that the connection port of the power supply terminal 200 is a dedicated charging port (DCP), the processing unit 160 may select 1 amp as the selected threshold, and cause the current limiting unit 150 to limit the current of the power supply signal Vs2 to less than 1 amp. . When judging that the connection port of the power supply terminal 200 is When the charging downstream port (CDP) is charged, the processing unit 160 can select 1.5 amps to be the selected threshold, and cause the current limiting unit 150 to limit the current of the power supply signal Vs2 to less than 1.5 amps.

In an embodiment, the processing unit 160 may generate the control signal Sc according to the selected threshold, so that the current limiting unit 150 converts the power signal Vs1 according to the control signal Sc into the power supply signal Vs2 whose current does not exceed the selected threshold. In addition, the current limiting unit 150 can be a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). For example, the first end of the MOSFET is electrically coupled to the first power terminal VBUS1, the second end of the MOSFET is electrically coupled to the second power terminal VBUS2, and the control end thereof is electrically coupled to Processing unit 160. The MOS field effect transistor can change its channel conduction degree according to the control signal Sc, thereby converting the power signal Vs1 into a power supply signal Vs2 corresponding to the selected threshold.

In an embodiment, the second terminal group of the second connector 120 further includes a second data positive terminal D2+ and a second data negative terminal D2-, and the processing unit 160 is electrically coupled to the second data positive terminal D2+ and the first Two data negative terminal D2-. The transmission line 100 can be coupled to the electronic device 300 and transmitted to the electronic device 300 by the second data positive terminal D2+ and the second data negative terminal D2-.

When the second connector 120 is connected to the electronic device 300, the processing unit 160 can receive the second transmission data transmitted by the electronic device 300 through the second data positive terminal D2+ and the second data negative terminal D2-, and according to the second transmission data. To modify the selected threshold. In one embodiment, the second transmission data can be transmitted by the user to the transmission line 100 through the electronic device 300, thereby modifying the upper limit of the power supply signal Vs2, so that the electronic device 300 can be charged in the fast charging mode.

In an embodiment, the transmission line 100 further includes at least two illumination units (hereinafter referred to as a first illumination unit 171 and a second illumination unit 172, respectively) for prompting the user to use the state, and the processing unit 160 is electrically coupled. The first light emitting unit 171 and the second light emitting unit 172 are connected.

The processing unit 160 can detect the connection status of the first connector 110, for example, perform power-on detection. When the processing unit 160 detects that the first connector 110 receives the power signal Vs1, it indicates that the first connector 110 is connected to the power supply terminal 200, and the first power terminal VBUS1 can receive the output from the power supply terminal 200. The power signal Vs1 (ie, the power supply terminal 200 and the first connector 110 can work normally), the processing unit 160 enables the first light emitting unit 171 to emit light. When the processing unit 160 does not detect that the first connector 110 receives the power signal Vs1, it indicates that the first power terminal VBUS1 does not receive the power signal Vs1, for example, the first connector 110 is not connected to the power terminal 200, When the connector 110 is connected to the power supply terminal 200, but the power supply terminal 200 or the first connector 110 is abnormal, the processing unit 160 disables the first lighting unit 171, so that the first lighting unit 171 does not emit light. Therefore, the user can determine whether the transmission line 100 receives the power signal Vs1 (ie, whether the power supply terminal 200 is normally powered or whether the first connector 110 is abnormal) by watching whether the first lighting unit 171 is illuminated.

In one embodiment, the power signal Vs1 is the source of power for the various components within the transmission line 100. When the first connector 110 of the transmission line 100 does not receive the power signal Vs1, the processing unit 160 will not operate because there is no power source, and the first lighting unit 171 also does not emit light because there is no power source.

The processing unit 160 detects the connection state of the second connector 120. When processing a single When the element 160 detects that the power supply signal Vs2 is output through the second connector 120, it indicates that the first connector 110 receives the power signal Vs1, and the second connector 120 is connected to the electronic device 300 to output the power supply signal Vs2 to the electronic device. 300. At this time, the processing unit 160 enables the second light emitting unit 172 to emit light. When the processing unit 160 does not detect that the power supply signal Vs2 is output through the second connector 120, it indicates that the first connector 110 receives the power signal Vs1 but the second connector 120 is not connected to the electronic device 300, or the second connector 120 is connected to the electronic device 300 but cannot output the power supply signal Vs2 (for example, the first connector 110 does not receive the power signal Vs1 or the second connector 120 is abnormal), at which time the processing unit 160 disables the second lighting unit 172. So that the second light emitting unit 172 does not emit light. Therefore, the user can determine whether the second connector 120 outputs the power supply signal Vs2 by watching whether the second lighting unit 172 is illuminated.

In an embodiment, the first light emitting unit 171 and the second light emitting unit 172 may be light emitting elements for displaying at least two different color lights (hereinafter referred to as first color light and second color light, respectively). For example, the first color light and the second color light may be green light and red light, respectively, to prompt the user to transmit the state of the line 100 by display of different color lights, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the first light emitting unit 171 is disposed on the first connector 110 , and the second light emitting unit 172 is disposed in the second connector 120 . For example, the first light emitting unit 171 can be disposed in the housing of the first connector 110, and the housing of the first connector 110 is disposed at a position corresponding to the first light emitting unit 171, so that the user can The light emitted by the first light emitting unit 171 is viewed from the transmission area. The second light emitting unit 172 can be disposed in the housing of the second connector 120, and the housing of the second connector 120 is disposed at a position corresponding to the second light emitting unit 172, so that the user can transmit the area therefrom. Watching the second light emitting unit 172 Light. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first light emitting unit 171 and the second light emitting unit 172 may be directly disposed on the housings of the first connector 110 and the second connector 120, respectively.

In an embodiment, the first light emitting unit 171 and the second light emitting unit 172 may be light emitting diodes (LEDs), but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the transmission line 100 may further include a temperature sensing unit for sensing an ambient temperature, and the temperature sensing unit may be disposed on the housing of the first connector 110 and/or the housing of the second connector 120. in. Hereinafter, two temperature sensing units will be described as an example. The temperature sensing unit disposed in the first connector 110 may be referred to as a first temperature sensing unit 180 , and the temperature sensing unit disposed in the second connector 120 may be referred to as a second temperature sensing unit 190 . The processing unit 160 is electrically coupled to the first temperature sensing unit 180 and the second temperature sensing unit 190.

The first temperature sensing unit 180 may be configured to sense a first sensing temperature of the first connector 110. When the first sensing temperature sensed by the first temperature sensing unit 180 reaches the first temperature threshold, for example, when the temperature of the first connector 110 is too high due to a short circuit, the first temperature sensing unit 180 may The first warning signal Sw1 is output.

In an embodiment, the processing unit 160 may cause the first lighting unit 171 to forward the second color light from the original first color light according to the first warning signal Sw1. However, this case is not limited to this. In another embodiment, the processing unit 160 disables the first lighting unit 171 according to the first warning signal Sw1, so that the first lighting unit 171 does not emit light. Therefore, the user can judge whether the temperature is too high between the first connector 110 and the power supply terminal 200 of the transmission line 100 according to the color light or the light emission displayed by the first light emitting unit 171.

The second temperature sensing unit 190 is configured to sense the second sense of the second connector 120 Measure the temperature. When the second sensing temperature sensed by the second temperature sensing unit 190 reaches the second temperature threshold, the second temperature sensing unit 190 outputs the second warning signal Sw2, and causes the processing unit 160 to perform the second warning signal Sw2. The second light emitting unit 172 is caused to forward the second color light from the original first color light. Therefore, the user can determine whether the temperature is too high between the second connector 120 of the transmission line 100 and the electronic device 300 according to the color light displayed by the second light emitting unit 172. In an embodiment, the processing unit 160 further causes the current limiting unit 150 to stop outputting the power supply signal Vs2 when the second warning signal Sw2 is received, to protect the transmission line 100 and the electronic device 300 from being burned.

In an embodiment, the first temperature sensing unit 180 and the second temperature sensing unit 190 may be temperature sensing wafers implemented in an integrated circuit manner, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first temperature sensing unit 180 is not limited thereto. The second temperature sensing unit 190 can also be implemented by using a circuit such as a thermistor and a comparator.

In an embodiment, the processing unit 160 can be a micro processing unit (MCU) or a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a programmable controller (PLC), or a special application integrated circuit (ASIC). , programmable logic devices (PLDs) and/or other similar devices.

In an embodiment, the wire body 130 includes a plurality of wires and an insulating case, and the insulating case covers the outside of the wires. The processing unit 160, the current limiting unit 150 and the current sensing unit 140 may be disposed on the first connector 110 or the second connector 120. As shown in FIG. 2, when the processing unit 160 is disposed on the second connector 120, the processing unit 160 is electrically connected to the first connector 110 and the components disposed in the first connector 110 via wires in the wire body 130. For example, the first light emitting unit 171. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3, when the processing unit 160 is disposed at When the first connector 110 is used, the processing unit 160 is electrically connected to the second connector 120 and the components disposed in the second connector 120, such as the second lighting unit 172, via wires in the wire body 130.

In an embodiment, the first connector 110 further includes a first ground terminal GND1, and the second connector 120 further includes a second ground terminal GND2. The first ground terminal GND1 can be electrically connected to the second ground terminal GND2 via a wire in the wire body 130.

In summary, the transmission line of the present invention senses the current of the power signal by the current sensing unit, and activates the current limiting unit to perform current limiting processing when the current of the power signal exceeds the current threshold to avoid the power supply end. Overcurrent protection. In addition, the transmission line of the present invention further prevents the transmission line and/or its connected electronic device from being burnt due to excessive temperature by temperature sensing of the temperature sensing unit. Furthermore, the transmission line of the present invention is further displayed by the light-emitting element light-numbering unit so that the user can easily know whether the transmission line can be used normally and the corresponding warning message, thereby quickly eliminating the problem.

100‧‧‧ transmission line

120‧‧‧Second connector

130‧‧‧Line body

141‧‧‧Sensor resistance

150‧‧‧ Current limiting unit

171‧‧‧First lighting unit

180‧‧‧First temperature sensing unit

D1+‧‧‧First data positive terminal

D2+‧‧‧Second data positive terminal

GND1‧‧‧first ground terminal

I1‧‧‧Sensing current

Sw1‧‧‧ first warning signal

Vs1‧‧‧ power signal

VBUS1‧‧‧First power terminal

110‧‧‧First connector

140‧‧‧current sensing unit

142‧‧Amplifier

160‧‧‧Processing unit

172‧‧‧second lighting unit

190‧‧‧Second temperature sensing unit

D1-‧‧‧First data negative terminal

D2-‧‧‧Second data negative terminal

GND2‧‧‧Second ground terminal

Sc‧‧‧ control signal

Sw2‧‧‧second warning signal

Vs2‧‧‧Power signal

VBUS2‧‧‧second power terminal

Claims (11)

A transmission line includes: a first connector having a first terminal group for receiving a power signal; and a second connector having a second terminal group for outputting a power supply signal, wherein the power supply signal is related The power signal is connected to the first connector and the second connector; a current sensing unit is coupled to the first terminal group, and generates a sensing current according to the power signal; The flow unit is coupled to the first terminal group and the second terminal group; and a processing unit is disposed on the first connector or the second connector, coupled to the first terminal group and the second terminal group The current sensing unit and the current limiting unit, when the sensing current exceeds a current threshold, causing the current limiting unit to limit the current of the power supply signal to a selected threshold. The transmission line of claim 1, wherein the first terminal group comprises a first power terminal, a first data positive terminal and a first data negative terminal, and the second terminal group comprises a second power terminal, the limit The flow unit is coupled to the first power terminal and the second power terminal, the processing unit is coupled to the first data positive terminal, the first data negative terminal and the current limiting unit, and the processing unit is further configured according to the first data The first transmission data received by the positive terminal and the first data negative terminal determines the selected threshold. The transmission line of claim 2, wherein the second terminal group further comprises a second data positive terminal and a second data negative terminal, the processing unit is further coupled to the second data positive terminal and the The second data negative terminal, and the processing unit further modifies the selected threshold according to a second transmission data received by the second data positive terminal and the second data negative terminal. The transmission line of claim 1, wherein the current sensing unit comprises: a sensing resistor coupled to the first terminal group; and an amplifier, wherein the two input ends of the amplifier are respectively coupled to the two ends of the sensing resistor And generating the sensing current according to a voltage drop of the power signal on the sensing resistor. The transmission line of claim 1, further comprising: a first lighting unit, disposed in the first connector, wherein the processing unit enables the first lighting unit to be sent when the first connector receives the power signal A first color light. The transmission line of claim 5, further comprising: a second lighting unit disposed in the second connector, wherein the processing unit enables the second lighting unit to be sent when the power supply signal is output through the second connector The first color light. The transmission line of claim 6, wherein the processing unit disables the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit when the first connector does not receive the power signal. The transmission line of claim 1, further comprising: a first temperature sensing unit coupled to the processing unit, disposed at the first connector to sense a first sensing temperature of the first connector, The first temperature sensing unit outputs a first warning signal when the first sensing temperature is sensed to reach a first temperature threshold. The transmission line of claim 8, further comprising: a first lighting unit disposed in the first connector, wherein the processing unit further causes the first lighting unit to emit a second color light according to the first warning signal. The transmission line as claimed in claim 1 further includes: a second temperature sensing unit coupled to the processing unit and disposed on the second connector to sense a second sensing temperature of the second connector, wherein the second temperature sensing unit senses When the second sensing temperature reaches a second temperature threshold, a second warning signal is output, and the processing unit prohibits the second connector from outputting the power supply signal according to the second warning signal. The transmission line of claim 10, further comprising: a second lighting unit disposed on the second connector, wherein the processing unit causes the second lighting unit to emit a second color light according to the second warning signal.