Power supply device with multiple outputs and power allocation control method thereof

The power supply device with multiple outputs includes two output ports, a power converting module with two power output ends, and two switching modules connected among the two power output ends and the two output ports. The output power from the two power output ends can be independently allocated to either one or two of the two second output ports. When one of the output ports requests for a demand power, the power supply device is able to determine which one or both of the power output ends to output power to the output port, reaching a better power allocation efficiency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a power supply device and a control method, and more particularly to a power supply device with multiple outputs and a power allocation control method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, electronic devices for diverse purposes have been increasingly popular in daily lives. Most people carry more than one electronic device around, which often includes products that require large power input for charging or a power supply device, such as a tablet computer or laptop computer, for example, which usually requires input power above 45W. Therefore, a power supply device with multiple outputs, each output providing power at the same time and having at least one output that provides large output power is a main demand.

With reference toFIG.10, a conventional power supply device with multiple outputs includes a first AC/DC converter A/D1, a second AC/DC converter A/D2, a first switch SW1, a second switch SW2, a third switch SW3, a first output port O/P1, and a second output port O/P2. The first AC/DC converter A/D1and the second AC/DC converter A/D2both receive an AC input power. The first AC/DC converter A/D1has a first output end D1, the second AC/DC converter A/D2has a second output end D2, the first switch SW1is electrically connected between the first output end D1and the first output port O/P1, the second switch SW2is electrically connected between the second output end D2and the second output port O/P2, and the third switch SW3is electrically connected between the first output end D1and the second output end D2.

When the first switch SW1is turned on, the second switch SW2and the third switch SW3are turned off, the first AC/DC converter A/D1outputs power through the first switch SW1to the first output port O/P1. When the second switch SW2is turned on, the first switch SW1and the third switch SW3are turned off, and the second AC/DC converter A/D2outputs power through the first switch SW1to the first output port O/P1. When the third switch SW3is turned on, the first switch SW1can be turned on and the second switch SW2can be turned off, or the second switch SW2can be turned on and the first switch SW1can be turned off, so as to connect the first AC/DC converter A/D1and the second AC/DC converter A/D2to the first output port O/P1or the second output port O/P2in parallel. As a result, the first AC/DC converter A/D1and the second AC/DC converter A/D2connected in parallel may integratedly output a higher total output power to one of the output ports. In general, the first and second AC/DC converters A/D1, A/D2are designed to have identical output power specification, so that the user does not need to intentionally choose between the two output ports.

An example of the conventional power supply device is provided hereby for better understanding.

When the first AC/DC converter A/D1and the second AC/DC converter A/D2both have a rated output power specification of 45W, the power supply device as a whole has a maximum output power of 90W. If the first output port O/P1and the second output port O/P2are each electrically connected to a device with required input power lower than 45W, the first switch SW1and the second switch SW2may be turned on, and the third switch SW3may be turned off. Therefore, the first AC/DC converter A/D1outputs power to the first output port O/P1, and the second AC/DC converter A/D2outputs power to the second output port O/P2, providing the two devices with the required power.

However, when the device connected to the first output port O/P1has a required power of 75W, the power supply device may control the first switch SW1and the third switch SW3to be turned on and the second switch SW2to be turned off, such that both the output powers of the first AC/DC converter A/D1and the second AC/DC converter A/D2are connected to the first output port O/P1, and the output power for the first output port O/P1is sufficient to provide that required by the device, but then the second output port O/P2does not provide the power.

Namely, the first output port O/P1and the second output port O/P2can only output power under 45W simultaneously. Power above 45W can only be outputted through one of the output ports, while the other output port is unusable. For example, when a power-requiring device is connected to the first output port O/P1and requires an output power of 20W, the power-requiring device will receive the output power from the first AC/DC converter. When the power-requiring device requires an output power of 50W, the power-requiring device will receive the integrated output power from the first AC/DC converter and the second AC/DC converter, and in this case, since the second power output end is connected to the first output port O/P1through the third switch, the second output port O/P2is not provided with any output port. However, the power supply device as a whole still has 40W of output power capability, which is idle and inefficient.

In other words, only power under half of the total output power can be provided to each of the output ports simultaneously. As long as a required output power of one of the output ports is slightly higher than half of the total output power, the other output port cannot output power even though the power supply device still has idle power output capability, resulting in an inconvenient user experience, restriction for power allocation design, and converting efficiency.

In conclusion, the conventional power supply device with multiple outputs needs to be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Since the power allocation system of a conventional power supply device with multiple outputs has the disadvantages of poor power converting efficiency and user inconvenience, a goal of the present invention is to provide a power supply device with multiple outputs, including:

a first output port;

a second output port;

a power converting module havinga first power output end outputting a first output power; anda second power output end outputting a second output power;

a first switching module electrically connected to the first power output end, the first output port, and the second output port to selectively connect the first power output end to one of the first output port and the second output port, or connect or disconnect the first power output end to or from both the first output port and the second output port; and

a second switching module electrically connected to the second power output end, the first output port, and the second output port to selectively connect the second power output end to one of the first output port and the second output port, or connect or disconnect the second power output end to and from both the first output port and the second output port.

In the present invention, the first power output end is connected to the first output port and the second output port through the first switching module, and the second power output end is connected to the first output port and the second output port through the second switching module. With the controlling of the first switching module and the second switching module, the first power output end can output power to the first output port or the second output port, while the second power output end can also output power to the first output port or the second output port. Therefore, the power converting module can output power through either one of the power output ends to either one of the power output ports, or output power through both the power output ends to one of the power output ports if a higher demand power is required at the output port.

Since the first power output end and the second power output end can be connected to either one of the output ports to supply power, the two output ports are identical to the user even if the two power output ends are specified to have different output powers. The user does not need to choose from the two output ports when connecting an electronic device to the power supply device.

The present invention yet provides a power allocation control method, including the following steps:

when a first demand power of a first output port is detected, determining whether the first demand power is higher than a first rated-power value of a first power output end;

when the first demand power is higher than the first rated-power value, connecting the first power output end and a second power output end to the first output port rather than a second output port;

when the first demand power is not higher than the first rated-power value, further determining whether the first demand power is higher than a second rated-power value of the second power output end;when the first demand power is not higher than the first rated-power value but higher than the second rated-power value, connecting the first power output end to the first output port rather than the second output port, and disconnecting the second power output end from the first output port and the second output port;when the first demand power is not higher than the second rated-power value, disconnecting the first power output end from the first output port and the second output port, and connecting the second power output end to the first output port rather than the second output port.

Since the first output power from the first power output end and the second output power from the second power output end can be arbitrary allocated to either one or two of the first and second output ports, when one of the output ports requests for a demand power, the power supply device is able to determine which one or both of the power output ends to output power to the output port, reaching a better power allocation efficiency.

Furthermore, since the first power output end and the second power output end can have different rated-power values, the power converting module can be optimized for two different output powers, and has better power utilization efficiency in a wider output power range. For example, the rated output power of the first power output end is 60W, the rated output power of the second power output end is 30W, and therefore the total maximum output power of the power supply device is 90W. When one of the output ports has a demand power of 20W, the second output power from the second power output end may be provided to the demanding output port; when one of the output ports has a demand power of 50W, the first output power from the first power output end may be provided to the demanding output port; when one of the output ports has a demand power of 75W, an integrated output power of the first and second output powers from the first and second power output ends may be provided to the demanding output port.

In conclusion, the power supply device of the present invention may be optimized according to different output powers. Therefore, the power supply device can operate under good power converting efficiency while providing different output powers. The user can connect a device that requires any level of input power to either one of the output ports and receives an output power with high converting efficiency. The present invention provides high converting efficiency at different output powers, while at the same time providing better convenience for users, overcoming the disadvantages of the conventional power supply device with multiple outputs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference toFIG.1, the power supply device with multiple outputs of the present invention includes a first output port O/P1, a second output port O/P2, a power converting module10, a first switching module20, and a second switching module30. The power converting module10, providing a first output power with a first rated-power value and providing a second output power with a second rated-power value, has a first power output end N1and a second power output end N2. The power converting module10receives an AC input power, and converts the AC power to a first output power P1and a second output power P2, wherein the first output power P1is outputted from the first power output end N1, and the second output power P2is outputted from the second power output end N2. Preferably, the rated values of the first output power P1and the second output power P2are different.

An input end of the first switching module20is electrically connected to the first power output end N1, and two output ends of the first switching module20are electrically connected to the first output port O/P1and the second output port O/P2, such that the first switching module20is able to selectively connect the first power output end N1to the first output port O/P1or the second output port O/P2. Similarly, an input end of the second switching module30is electrically connected to the second power output end N2, and two output ends of the second switching module30are electrically connected to the first output port O/P1and the second output port O/P2, such that the second switching module30is able to selectively connect the second power output end N2to the first output port O/P1or the second output port O/P2.

With reference toFIG.2, more specifically, the first switching module20includes a first switch SW1and a second switch SW2, and the second switching module30includes a third switch SW3and a fourth switch SW4. The first switch SW1is electrically connected between the first power output end N1and the first output port O/P1; the second switch SW2is electrically connected between the first power output end N1and the second output port O/P2; the third switch SW3is electrically connected between the second power output end N2and the first output port O/P1; the fourth switch SW4is electrically connected between the second power output end N2and the second output port O/P2. Each of the first switch SW1to the fourth switch SW4can be controlled to be conductive or opened, so that the first power output end N1and the second power output end N2are selectively connected to the first output port O/P1or the second output port O/P2.

With reference to Table 1 (shown below), the different states of the first output power P1and the second output power P2allocated to the first output port O/P1or the second output port O/P2are controlled by controlling the first switch to the fourth switch SW1-SW4. In Table 1, symbol “O” means the corresponding switch being turned on, and symbol “X” means the corresponding switch being turned off. The symbol “P1” means the corresponding output port outputting the first output power P1, the symbol “P2” means the corresponding output port outputting the second output power P2, and the symbol “P1+P2” means the corresponding output port outputting the integration of the first output power P1and the second output power P2.

With reference toFIG.3, preferably, the power supply device module includes a control module40, electrically connected to the first output port O/P1, the second output port O/P2, the first switching module20and the second switching module30. The control module40detects a first demand power of the first output port O/P1and a second demand power of the second output port O/P2to control the first switching module20and the second switching module30accordingly. The control module40controls the first switching module20to selectively connect the first power output end N1to the first output port O/P1or the second output port O/P2, or to disconnect from both of the output ports; the control module40also controls the second switching module30to selectively connect the first power output end N1to the first output port O/P1or the second output port O/P2, or to disconnect from both of the output ports. Preferably, the control module40detects the first demand power by communicating with a first power-requiring device connected to the first output port O/P1according to the Power Delivery Protocol (PD protocol), and also detects the second demand power by communicating with a second power-requiring device connected to the second output port O/P2according to the PD protocol. The control module40controls the first switch SW1to the fourth switch SW4to achieve the controlling of the first switching module20and the second switching module30. In an embodiment of the present invention, the control module40may be a controller microchip or a digital processor.

According to Table 1, the first output power P1and the second output power P2may be selectively allocated to the first output port O/P1and the second output port O/P2in at least the following different ways: the first output power P1outputted to the first output port O/P1, the second output power P2outputted to the second output port O/P2; the first output power P1outputted to the second output port O/P2, the second output power P2outputted to the first output port O/P1; both the first output power P1and the second output power P2outputted to the first output port O/P1, or both the first output power P1and the second output power P2outputted to the second output port O/P2.

With reference toFIG.4, in an embodiment of the present invention, the power converting module10includes an AC/DC (alternative current to direct current) converter, a first DC (direct current) converting unit having the first rated-power value, and a second DC converting unit13having the second rated-power value. The AC/DC converter11receives an AC input power, and converts the AC input power to a DC power. The first DC converting unit12is electrically connected to the AC/DC converter11, receives the DC power, converts the DC power to the first output power P1, and outputs the first output power P1to the first power output end N1. The second DC converting unit13is electrically connected to the AC/DC converter11, receives the DC power, converts the DC power to the first output power P1, and outputs the first output power P1to the first power output end N1.

With reference toFIG.5, preferably, the AC/DC converter11includes a Flyback converter, the first DC converting unit12includes a first step-down converter121and a first controller122, and the second DC converting unit13includes a first step-down converter131and a second controller132. The first and second step-down converters121,131may be Buck converters.

The AC/DC converter11converts the AC input power into a DC power, and the first DC converting unit12and the second DC converting unit13convert the DC power to the first output power P1and the second output power P2to be allocated to the first output port O/P1and the second output port O/P2. In the present embodiment, there is no need for an AC/DC converter11for each output port, reducing the required space for disposing isolating transformer. With the optimized design for the first and second DC converting units12,13, the power supply device still provides multiple efficiency optimized output powers. In the present embodiment, the first DC converting unit12is optimized according to the first rated-power value of the first power output end N1, and the second DC converting unit13is optimized according to the second rated-power value of the second power output end N2.

In the present invention, the control module40includes the first controller122of the first DC converting unit12and the second controller132of the second DC converting unit13. The first controller122is electrically connected to the first output port O/P1to detect the first demand power, and is electrically connected to the first switching module20to control the first switching module20. Similarly, the second controller132is electrically connected to the second output port O/P2to detect the second demand power, and is electrically connected to the second switching module30to control the second switching module30; the first controller122and the second controller132are electrically connected to transmit the first demand power and the second demand power to each other. The first controller122controls the first switching module20according to the first demand power and the second demand power, and the second controller132controls the second switching module30according to the first demand power and the second demand power. In short, the first controller122and the second controller132learn the first and second demand powers by communicating with each other, and therefore can determine the controlling of the first and second switching modules20,30in cooperation.

In the present embodiment, the control module40comprises the controllers of the DC converting units, such that the first and second controllers122,132communicate directly to cooperatively receive the first and second demand powers of the first and second output ports O/P2. An additional processor is therefore omitted for the controlling of the first switching module20and the second switching module30.

Preferably, the first rated-power value of the first power output end N1and the second rated-power value of the second power output end N2are different. That is, the first DC converting unit12and the second DC converting unit13are optimized according to two different output powers, such that the power supply device of the present invention has a wider range of high efficiency output power. That is, when a power-requiring device is connected to one of the output ports, the output power closer to the demand power of the power-requiring device can be switched to the output port by the first and second switching modules20,30. An application example of the present invention will be provided under the presumption that the first rated-power value is higher than the second rated-power value, and that the first output port O/P1is connected to a first power-requiring device. It should be noted that when the second output port O/P2is connected to a second power-requiring device in the first place, the output power is provided to the second output port O/P2under the determination of providing the output power that has the higher and closer rated-power value to the demand power. Since the logic of the determination step is similar, it is hereby omitted.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the control module40detects the first demand power of the first output port O/P1, the control module40determines if the first demand power is higher than the first rated-power value; if the first demand power is higher, the control module40controls the first switching module20to connect the first power output end N1to the first output port O/P1rather than the second output port O/P2, and controls the second switching module30to connect the first power output end N1to the first output port O/P1rather than the second output port O/P2. If the first demand power is not higher, the control module40further determines if the first demand power is higher than the second rated-power value; if the first demand power is lower than the first rated-power value and higher than the second rated-power value, the control module40controls the first switching module20to connect the first power output end N1to the first output port O/P1rather than the second output port O/P2, and controls the second switching module30to disconnect the second power output end N2from both the first output port O/P1and the second output port O/P2; if the first demand power is lower than the second rated-power value, the control module40controls the first switching module20to disconnect the first power output end N1from both the first output port O/P1and the second output port O/P2, and controls the second switching module30to connect the second power output end N2to the first output port O/P1rather than the second output port O/P2.

With reference toFIG.6, the power allocation control method of the present invention includes the following steps:

when a first demand power of a first output port is detected (S101), determining whether the first demand power is higher than a first rated-power value of a first power output end (S102);when the first demand power is higher than the first rated-power value, connecting the first power output end and a second power output end to the first output port rather than a second output port (S103);

when the first demand power is not higher than the first rated-power value, further determining whether the first demand power is higher than a second rated-power value of the second power output end (S104);when the first demand power is not higher than the first rated-power value but higher than the second rated-power value, connecting the first power output end to the first output port rather than the second output port, and disconnecting the second power output end from the first output port and the second output port (S105);when the first demand power is not higher than the second rated-power value, disconnecting the first power output end from the first output port and the second output port, and connecting the second power output end to the first output port rather than the second output port (S106).

In the following application examples, the first rated-power value of the first power output end N1is 60W, and the second rated-power value of the second power output end N2is 30W.

In a first application example, the first demand power of the first output port O/P1is lower than the second rated-power value, for example, 30W. There are three different power allocation ways to fulfill the required output: connecting the first power output end N1to the first output port O/P1, connecting the second power output end N2to the first output port O/P1, or connecting both the first and the second power output ends N2to the first output port O/P1. According to the common knowledge of the power converting technology, the second output power P2provided by the second DC converting unit13can be converted with the highest efficiency. Therefore, the control module40controls the first switching module20to disconnect the first power output end N1from the two output ports, and controls the second switching module30to connect the second power output end N2to the first output port O/P1.

In a second application example, the first demand power of the first output port O/P1is lower than the first rated-power value but higher than the second rated-power value. For example, 50W. There are two different power allocation ways to fulfill the required output: connecting the first power output end N1to the first output port O/P1, or connecting both the first and the second power output ends N2to the first output port O/P1. Since the first output power P1is enough to provide the first demand power of 50W, providing both the first and second output powers P2leads to redundant efficiency. Therefore, providing the first output power P1to the first output port O/P1is the better choice.

Therefore, the control module40controls the first switching module20to connect the first power output end N1to the first output port O/P1, and controls the second switching module30to disconnect the second power output end N2from both of the two output ports.

In the above mentioned application example, if the second output port O/P2is further connected to another power requiring device, the control module40may further control the second switching module30or the first switching module20to connect the idle power output end to the second output port O/P2, such that the other output power can be provided to the second output port O/P2.

With the first switching module20and the second switching module30of the present invention, the output power of the first power output end N1and the second power output end N2can be allocated to either of the out ports flexibly according to the demand power at the output ports. Even when the demand power of an output port is higher than half of the total specified output power of the multiple output power supply devices, the power output end with higher specified output power than the demand power is sufficient to provide, while the other power output end with lower output power is still idle and able to provide power for the other output port when needed.

In a third application example, when the first demand power is higher than the first rated-power value, for example, 75W, the control module40controls the first and second switching modules20,30to connect both the first and second power output ends N1, N2to the first output port O/P1, such that the integrated power of the first and the second power output ends N1, N2is provided to the first output port O/P1.

Furtherly, when the first output port O/P1has a first demand power in the first place, and the second output port O/P2has a second demand power afterward, the control module40determines whether the first demand power is higher than the second rated-power value. When the first demand power is higher, the control module40controls the first switching module20to connect the first power output end N1to the first output port O/P1, and controls the second switching module30to connect the second power output end N2to the second output port O/P2. When the first demand power is not higher, the control module40controls the first switching module20to connect the first power output end N1to the second output port O/P2, and controls the second switching module30to connect the second power output end N2to the first output port O/P1.

With reference toFIG.7, the power allocation control method of the present invention further includes the following steps:

when a second demand power of the second output port is further detected (S201), determining whether the first demand power is higher than the second rated-power value (S202);

when the first demand power is higher than the second rated-power value, connecting the first power output end to the first output port rather than the second output port, and connecting the second power output end to the second output port rather than the first output port (S203);

when the first demand power is not higher than the second rated-power value, connecting the first power output end to the second output port rather than the first output port, and connecting the second power output end to the first output port rather than the second output port (S204).

In the present invention, when the first output port O/P1is connected to a power-requiring device firstly and has a first demand power, and then the second output port O/P2is connected to another power-requiring device and has a second demand power, the control module40simply compares the first and second demand powers to the first and second rated-power values. The control module40controls the second switching module30to connect the second power output end N2to the first output port O/P1, preventing the situation of providing the first output power P1with higher rated-power value to the first output port O/P1that requires lower output power. In other conditions, the first output power P1is provided to the first output port O/P1, and the second output power P2is provided to the second output port O/P2.

With reference toFIG.8, in another embodiment of the present invention, the power supply device includes a first base power providing unit61and a second base power providing unit62. The first base power providing unit61is electrically connected between the first power output end N1and the first output port O/P1. When the first switching module20connects the first power output end N1to the second output port O/P2rather than the first output port O/P1, and the second switching module30connects the second power output end N2to the second output port O/P2rather than the first output port O/P1, the first base power providing unit61receives the first output power P1, converts the first output power P1to a first base power, and outputs the first base power to the first output port O/P1. Similarly, the second base power providing unit62is electrically connected between the second power output end N2and the second output port O/P2. When the first switching module20connects the first power output end N1to the first output port O/P1rather than the second output port O/P2, and the second switching module30connects the second power output end N2to the first output port O/P1rather than the second output port O/P2, the second base power providing unit62receives the second output power P2, converts the second output power P2to a second base power, and outputs the second base power to the second output port O/P2.

In the present embodiment, when one of the output ports has the demand power higher than the first rated-power value, and the first and second switching modules20,30connect the first and second power output ends N2to the output port to provide sufficient output power, the first and second base power providing units61,62convert the first or second output power P2to a base output power with a low rated-power value, such as a base output power of 5V/1 A, and provides the base output power to the other output port. In short, in the present embodiment, when one of the output ports requires a high demand power that requires the output of both the first output power P1and the second output port O/P2, the other output port may still receive a base output power when connected to another power-requiring device without re-switching or re-connecting of the first and second switching modules20,30, and will not be totally unusable.

With reference toFIG.9, in an embodiment of the present invention, the power supply device further includes a third output port O/P3and a third switching module50, and the power converting module10further comprises a third power output end N3. The third switching module50is electrically connected to the third power output end N3and the first output port O/P1, the second output port O/P2and the third output port O/P3, and selectively connects the third power output end N3to one or two of the first output port O/P1, the second output port O/P2and the third output port O/P3, or disconnects from all of the first output port O/P1, the second output port O/P2and the third output port O/P3. The first switching module20is also electrically connected between the first power output end N1and the third output port O/P3, and selectively connects the first power output end N1to the third output port O/P3. The second switching module30is also electrically connected between the second power output end N2and the third output port O/P3, and selectively connects the second power output end N2to the third output port O/P3.

In the present embodiment, the power supply device has three output ports, and the power converting module10also further includes a third power output end N3. Preferably, the first, second and third switching modules50each include three switches, each of the switches is electrically connected between the first, second and third power output ends N1, N2, N3and the first, second and third output ports O/P1, O/P2, O/P3, so that the connection between each power output end and each output port can be controlled separately.

Furthermore, the power converting module10includes the AC/DC converter11and DC converting units corresponding to each of the power output ends N1, N2, N3. In the present embodiment, the power converting module10further includes a third DC converting unit14, which also includes a step-down converter and a controller.

As a reasonable result of the topology of the power supply device in the present invention, the number of the power output ends and DC converting units of the power converting module10can be expanded according to the requirement of the power supply device. Since the efficiency of the different specified output powers can be optimized through the optimization of each of the step-down converters, without the need of disposing extra AC/DC converters11, the present invention improves power utilization efficiency in multiple different using situations, and reduces the space and size requirement of the power supply device at the same time.