Expansion apparatus with power management function

An expansion apparatus with a power management function includes a power supply device, an expansion module and a control module. The power supply device includes a controller and an output terminal, and provides a predetermined power through the output terminal. The expansion module includes an input port coupled to the output terminal, and multiple output ports operable to be coupled to multiple electronic apparatuses. The control module has a full-power output mode and a disabled mode, and receives a device identifier provided by the controller through the input port to learn the predetermined power, so as to selectively adjust the output ports to operate in the full-power output mode or the disabled mode based on the predetermined power, thereby limiting a total power consumed by the electronic apparatuses and the expansion module to be less than or equal to the predetermined power.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an expansion apparatus, and more particularly, to an expansion apparatus with a power management function.

Description of the Prior Art

With constant advancement of technologies, an increasing number of electronic apparatuses (for example but not limited to, smartphones, tablet computers and screens) play indispensable roles in people's everyday life. For an electronic apparatus, power supply convenience has long been an inevitable issue. In particular, as numbers of products becoming electronic continues to grow, there is a need for a more efficient means for powering electronic apparatuses. On the other hand, with a change in the usage habits, a user may concurrently own multiple electronic apparatuses. For numerous electronic apparatuses, power from a power supply may not be efficiently distributed, such that the user may need to expand the power supply to multiple power sources, resulting in complications for the user.

To solve the above issues, there is also an increasing number of expansion apparatuses that primarily distribute power to multiple electronic apparatuses through one single expansion apparatus, so as to achieve a function of supplying power to multiple electronic apparatuses by one single power source (usually referring to an adapter). However, if an amount of power needed by the multiple electronic apparatuses exceeds an allowable load of the adapter, an entire expansion apparatus may become overloaded and hence malfunctions. Especially for an adapter with a small specification that provides a lower power, too many electronic apparatuses may be connected thereto by mistake if not enough attention is paid.

Therefore, it is a vital task of the applicant of the present application as how to design an expansion apparatus with a power management function, so as to prevent issues of malfunction of an entire expansion apparatus in case that power required by electronic apparatuses is higher than an allowable load of a power source.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above issues, the present invention provides an expansion apparatus with a power management function so as to overcome drawbacks of the prior art. Accordingly, an expansion apparatus with a power management function of the present invention includes a power supply device, an expansion module, and a control module. The power supply device includes a controller and an output terminal, and provides a predetermined power through the output terminal. The expansion module includes an input port and a plurality of output ports, wherein the input port is coupled to the output terminal, and the output ports are operable be coupled to a plurality of electronic apparatuses. The control module has a full-power output mode and a disabled mode, and receives a device identifier provided by the controller through the input port to learn the predetermined power, so as to selectively adjust the output ports to operate in the full-power output mode or the disabled mode based on the predetermined power, thereby limiting a total power consumed by the electronic apparatuses and the expansion module to be less than or equal to the predetermined power.

To solve the above issues, the present invention provides a power management method for an expansion apparatus so as to overcome drawbacks of the prior art. Accordingly, an expansion apparatus with a power management function of the present invention includes a power supply device and an expansion module, wherein the expansion module includes a plurality of output ports operable to be coupled to a plurality of output ports. The power management method includes following steps: (a) receiving a predetermined power provided from a power supply device, and receiving a device identifier provided by the power supply device to learn the predetermined power; (b) controlling, based on a total power consumed by the electronic apparatus and the expansion module that is less than or equal to the predetermined power, the output ports to operate in a full power mode; and (c) setting a weighting ratio of the output ports, and preferentially adjusting, based on a condition that the total power is greater than or equal to the predetermined power, the output port with a lower weighting ratio to a disabled mode or a reduced power output mode, so as to limit the total power to be less than or equal to the predetermined power.

The main objects and effects of the present invention are that, the expansion apparatus receives the device identifier provided by the controller of the power supply device through the input port to learn an upper limit of the predetermined power of the power supply device, and selectively adjusts, based on the predetermined power, the output ports to operate in the full power output mode or the disabled mode, so as to limit the total power consumed by the electronic apparatus and the expansion module to be less than or equal to the predetermined power, thereby preventing the total power demand from getting higher than the predetermined power and hence from causing malfunction of an entire expansion apparatus.

To further understand the techniques, means and functions expected to be achieved by the present invention, the present invention is described in detail with the accompanying drawings below so that the specific objects, features and characteristics can be accordingly better understood. It should be noted that the drawings provided are for reference and illustration purposes, and are not to be construed as limitations to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The technical contents and details of the present invention are described with the accompanying drawings below.

FIG.1shows a circuit block diagram of an expansion apparatus with a power management function according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG.1, the expansion apparatus100includes a power supply device1, an expansion module2, and a control module3, wherein the expansion module2is coupled to the power supply device1and the control module3. The power supply device1includes a conversion circuit12, a controller14, and an output terminal16, wherein the controller14is coupled to the conversion circuit12and the output terminal16. The conversion circuit12receives an input voltage Vin. The controller14is configured to control the conversion circuit12to convert the input voltage Vin to a predetermined voltage Vs, so as to provide the predetermined voltage Vs to the expansion module2through the output terminal16. The power supply device1is, for example but not limited to, a general power supply device such as an adapter, and is capable of providing a predetermined power Ps (that is, a predetermined wattage) to the expansion module2through the output terminal16, for the use of back-end devices. A value of the predetermined power Ps is primarily limited by circuit parameters of the conversion circuit12or operation parameters of the controller14, and a total power Pt (that is, an upper limit) that can be supplied/consumed by an entire expansion apparatus100is limited by the value of the predetermined power Ps.

The expansion module2includes an input port22and a plurality of output ports24-1to24-n, wherein the input port22is coupled to the output terminal16so as to receive the predetermined voltage Vs through the input port22. Based on the predetermined voltage Vs, the expansion module2provides an output voltage Vo to the output ports24-1to24-n, so as to provide the output voltage Vo to power the electronic apparatus200through the output ports24-1to24-n. The output ports24-1to24-nmay be a plurality of different predetermined ports, and may be in types including, for example but not limited to, ports such as USB Type-A, USB Type-B, USB Type-C, HDMI, and network ports, which are operable to be coupled to an electronic apparatus200(for example but not limited to, a laptop computer, a cellphone, or a screen) having a same type of port. The control module3may be configured in the expansion module2, and is capable of setting operation modes of the output ports24-1to24-n, so as to prevent the total power Pt consumed by the electronic apparatus200from exceeding the upper limit that can be supplied by the power supply device1.

More specifically, the control module3primarily adjusts the operation mode of each of the output ports24-1to24-nbased on the predetermined power Ps and the total power Pt, wherein the operation mode at least includes a full power output mode and a disabled mode. The control module3receives a device identifier ID provided from the controller14of the power supply device1through the input port22and learns an upper limit of the predetermined power Ps of the power supply device1, and selectively adjusts, based on the predetermined power Ps, the output ports24-1to24-nto operate in the full power output mode or the disabled mode, so as to limit the total power Pt consumed by the electronic apparatus200and the expansion module2to be less than or equal to the predetermined power Ps. The device identifier ID may notify the control module3of the type/specification of the power supply device1by means of coupling an ID pin or an ADC pin of the controller14to the control module3. Alternatively, the control module3may be notified of the type/specification of the power supply device1by means of coupling a Dallas 1-wire pin to the control module3.

Further, the control module3may set weighting ratios of the output ports24-1to24-nby means of, for example but not limited to, according to the types of the output ports24-1to24-nor designating priorities of the output ports24-1to24-n, or the weighting ratios of the output ports24-1to24-nmay be set by a self-defined priority order through an operation interface (not shown) of the expansion module2. When the control module3detects that the total power Pt is greater than or equal to the predetermined power Ps, the control module3may preferentially adjust the output ports24-1to24-nhaving lower weightings to the disabled mode based on settings of the weighting ratios. In addition, the control module3may further determine the weighting ratios according to the priority of the electronic apparatus200with respect to the output ports24-1to24-n, in a way that the electronic apparatus200connected first is prioritized to be powered first. The weighting ratios may be weighed based on one single condition or multiple consolidated conditions, and are not specifically defined herein. It should be noted that, in one embodiment of the present invention, the control module3may be a controller having a data processing/determination function, such as a programmable controller or a microcontroller.

For example, assume that the upper limit of the predetermined power Ps that can be supplied by the power supply device1is 65 W, and the power consumption of the expansion module2is 30 W (with the consumption of the output ports24-1to24-nadded). In this case, assume that there are three electronic apparatuses200coupled to three output ports24-1to24-n, and the power consumed by the three electronic apparatuses200are respectively 10 W, 20 W and 30 W, totaling up to a total power Pt of 90 W. In a conventional power expansion apparatus100, when all of the three electronic apparatuses200are in operation, the predetermined power Ps that can be supplied by the power supply device1is inevitably insufficient for powering the three electronic apparatuses200(that is, 30 W+10 W+20 W+30 W=90 W, which exceeds 65 W of the predetermined power Ps), leading to malfunction of the entire expansion apparatus100.

Since the present invention sets the operation modes of the output ports24-1to24-nbased on the predetermined power Ps and the total power Pt by the control module3, the control module3may set, for example but not limited to, the output ports24-1to24-nconnected to the electronic apparatus200in 10 W and 20 W to the full power output mode, so as to provide a full power for powering the two for normal operations. Remaining output ports24-1to24-nwith 30 W are set to the disabled mode, and this electronic apparatus200is temporarily not supplied with power. Thus, the power consumption of the expansion module2added with the consumption of the two electronic apparatuses200are, for example but not limited to, 10 W+20 W, which is less than 65 W and does not exceed the upper limit of the predetermined power Ps (65 W). Therefore, the expansion apparatus100remains functional, and malfunction of the entire expansion apparatus100is not caused as a result of the required total power Pt being higher than the predetermined power Ps.

FIG.2shows a circuit block diagram of the output ports of the expansion apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present application. Refer toFIG.1in combination. The expansion apparatus100further includes a plurality of load detection circuits4, a plurality of current detectors5, and a plurality of voltage detectors6. The load detection circuits4are correspondingly coupled to the output ports24-1to24-n, and respectively detect load types of the electronic apparatuses200coupled to the output ports24-1to24-nso as to provide a load detection signal SI to the control module3. The control module3learns the load types through the load detection signal SI, and determines, according to the load types, to which operation modes the output ports24-1to24-nare to be adjusted. The load types are, for example but not limited to, a type as an energy storage battery that needs to be charged, a type as a conversion circuit that needs to be continuously powered, or even a type as a power source that can provide power back to the expansion module2.

More specifically, the control module3is predetermined with load information, and receives the load detection signal SI to compare whether information corresponding to the load detection signal SI matches the load information. When the information corresponding to the load detection signal SI matches the load information, the control module3then learns the load types of the connected electronic apparatuses200. The load information and the type of the load detection signal SI may be types such as a data format (for example but not limited to, an identifier) or a waveform signal, and is not specifically defined herein.

When the control module3learns the load type of each connected electronic apparatus200, the control module3sets the weighting ratio based on the load types. For example, but not limited to, the type as an energy storage battery may be set with a lower weighting ratio since the energy storage battery does not need to operate continuously. In contrast, the type as a conversion circuit that needs to be powered continuously is set with a higher weighting ratio. When the information corresponding to certain electronic apparatuses200does not match the load information in a way that the control module3cannot determine the load type of the electronic apparatus200, the control module3may adjust the operation modes of the output ports24-1to24-nconnected to the electronic apparatus200. For example, but not limited to, for safety reasons, the operation mode is set to the disabled mode, or a current limiting mode that limits a current, so that the current supplied to the electronic apparatus200is limited to a predetermined current.

The current detectors5are correspondingly coupled to the output ports24-1to24-n, and respectively detect an output current Io flowing through the output ports24-1to24-n, so as to provide a current detection signal Si corresponding to the output current Io to the control module3. The control module3learns a value of the output current Io provided to the electronic apparatus200through the current detection signal Si, and calculates the power usage of each electronic apparatus200. Similar to electricity calculation of an electric meter, the power consumed by the electronic apparatus200during a period in which the electronic apparatus200is connected to the output ports24-1to24-nis calculated. The control module3may be predetermined with an upper usage limit for one or multiple of the output ports24-1to24-n, and adjusts the output ports24-1to24-nto the disabled mode based on the moment the output current Io flowing through the set output ports24-1to24-ncorrespondingly exceeds the upper usage limit, so as to prevent the power consumption of certain electronic apparatuses200from getting overly large and from occupying most of the power usage of the expansion apparatus100.

The voltages detectors6are correspondingly coupled to the output ports24-1to24-n, and respectively detect an output voltage Vo of the output ports24-1to24-n, so as to provide a voltage detection signal Sv corresponding to the output voltage Vo to the control module3. The control module3learns a value of the output voltage Vo provided to the output ports24-1to24-nthrough the voltage detection signal Sv, so as to determine whether the output voltage Vo is normal. The control module3is predetermined with a plurality of voltage ranges (for example but not limited to, 5V, 9V and 12V) for each output port, and adjusts the corresponding output ports24-1to24-nto the disabled mode based on the moment the output voltage Vo of the output ports24-1to24-ncorrespondingly exceeds the voltage range, so as to prevent the output voltage Vo from getting too high or too low and hence from causing damage to the expansion apparatus100or the electronic apparatus200. The upper and lower limits of the voltage range may be set based on over-voltage protection (OVP) or under-voltage protection (UVP). Regarding the calculation for the power consumption of the electronic apparatus200, the calculation may be performed in combination with the current detection signal Si and the voltage detection signal Sv.

Again referring toFIG.2, to prevent a sudden change in the output current Io from affecting and causing malfunction of the electronic apparatus200, when the control module3is to adjust one of the output ports24-1to24-nfrom a non-disabled mode to the disabled mode, the control module3first adjusts the load of the one of the output ports24-1to24-nto a load-free state, and then adjusts the one of the output ports24-1to24-nto the disabled mode. That is to say, the control module3first reduces the output current Io flowing through the one of the output ports24-1to24-nto low output current and even reduces the low output current Io to zero, and then adjusts the one of the output ports24-1to24-nto the disabled mode, so as to prevent the electronic apparatus200from being affected by a sudden change in the output current Io and hence from malfunctioning.

It should be noted that, in one embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined power Ps of the expansion apparatus100that is less than the total power Pt consumed by the electronic apparatus200is merely illustrative, and a situation where the predetermined power Ps is greater than the total power Pt is not further discussed in the present invention. Moreover, the total power Pt of the embodiment may also refer to a maximum output power (that is, a rated power) specified by the electronic apparatus200, or may refer to a power actually consumed by the electronic apparatus200currently. For example but not limited to, one electronic apparatus200may be marked with a rated power of 50 W, but may merely consume only a power of 10 W as having a low load currently. Thus, the control module3may perform control based on the rated power of the electronic apparatus200, or may perform control based on the power actually consumed by the electronic apparatus200. However, a preferred embodiment in which the control module3performs control based on the power actually consumed by the electronic apparatus200achieves an effect of significantly enhancing a power utilization rate.

For example, assume the power supply device1having the predetermined power Ps of 95 W is used, and the expansion module2has one USB Type-C port (15 W output), four USB Type-A ports (7.5 W output) and one electronic apparatus200(65 W). In the above example, the power supply device1having the predetermined power Ps of 95 W is insufficient for supplying the total power Pt consumed by the expansion module2and all of the ports (assuming the electronic apparatus200is fully turned on at a full load (calculated by an equation as 5 W+65 W+15 W*1+7.5 W*4=155 W>95 W). Thus, the control module3may set some of the output ports24-1to24-nwith restrictions to the disabled mode by setting the weighting ratios. For example, but not limited to, the control module3sets one USB Type-C port and three USB Type-A ports to the full power output mode, and sets one USB Type-A port to the disabled mode (calculated by an equation as 5 W+65 W+15 W+7.5 W=92.5 W<95 W). Alternatively, the control module3sets four USB Type-A ports to the full power output mode, and sets one USB Type-C port to the disabled mode (calculated by an equation as 5 W+65 W+7.5 W*3=92.5 W<95 W).

Refer toFIG.3showing a circuit block diagram of an expansion apparatus with a power management function according to a second embodiment of the present invention, andFIG.4shows a circuit block diagram of output ports of the expansion apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Also refer toFIG.1andFIG.2. The embodiment inFIG.3differs from that inFIG.1in that, the control module3is defined with a Power Delivery (PD) protocol, and further has a reduced power output mode. Because the control module3is defined with the PD protocol, the expansion module2at least includes a USB Type-C port and is similarly operable to be connected to the electronic apparatus20similarly defined with the PD protocol, so as to provide more flexible transmission performance to satisfy power requirements of various apparatuses. More specifically, the control module3receives a handshake signal Sh provided by the electronic apparatus200defined with the PD protocol through the output ports24-1to24-n, and adjusts, based on the handshake signal Sh, the output ports24-1to24-nto operate in the reduced power output mode, hence similarly limiting the total power Pt to be less than equal to the predetermined power Ps.

The reduced power output mode refers to a mode in which the control module3dynamically adjusts a power data object (PDO), and reduces the PDO to a voltage/current specification acceptable to the electronic apparatus200(for example, from the full power output mode of 20V/5 A to 20V/3.75 A, 20V/3 A, 15V/3 A, 9V/3 A, or 5V/3 A). Moreover, the control module3may dynamically adjust a control mode for the PDO into two modes including a manual control mode and an automatic control mode. In the manual control mode, a user may switch the PDO as desired; in the automatic control mode, the output current Io and/or the output voltage Vo can be adjusted. Except for the USB Type-C port that can include the reduced power output mode, this rule cannot be used by the output ports24-1to24-nnot defined with the PD protocol, and the control module3similarly operates these output ports24-1to24-nin the full power output mode or the disabled output mode according to the logic ofFIG.1.

Due to the presence of the reduced power output mode inFIG.3, the control module3is slightly modified in terms of signal detection and control compared toFIG.1. More specifically, in terms of load detection, the control module3is capable of handshaking and communicating with the electronic apparatus200through the handshake signal Sh. Thus, the control module3can learn the load type of the electronic apparatus200without involving detection of the load detection circuit4, and set the weighting ratio based on the load type. Then, based on a condition when the total power Pt is greater than or equal to the predetermined power Ps, the control module3preferentially adjusts the output ports24-1to24-nhaving lower weighting ratios and defined with the PD protocol to the reduced power output mode, so as to prevent the total power Pt consumed by the electronic apparatus200from exceeding the upper limit that can be supplied by the power supply device1.

In terms of current detection, the control module3can similarly learn the value of the output current Io of the electronic apparatus200through the current detection signal Si, and calculate the power usage of the electronic apparatus200. The control module3may be predetermined with an upper usage limit for one or multiple of the output ports24-1to24-ndefined with the PD protocol, and adjusts the output ports24-1to24-nto the reduced power mode based on a moment when the output current Io flowing through the set output ports24-1to24-ncorrespondingly exceeds the upper usage limit, so as to prevent the power consumption of certain electronic apparatuses200from getting overly large and from occupying most of the power usage of the expansion apparatus100.

For example, assume the power supply device1having the predetermined power Ps of 95 W is used, and the expansion module2has two USB Type-C port (15 W output), one USB Type-A port (7.5 W output) and one electronic apparatus200(65 W) defined with the PD protocol. In the above example, the power supply device1having the predetermined power Ps of 95 W is insufficient for supplying the total power Pt consumed by the expansion module2and all of the ports (assuming the electronic apparatus200is fully turned on at a full load (calculated by an equation as 5 W+65 W+15 W*2+7.5 W=107.5 W>95 W)). Thus, the control module3may set some of the output ports24-1to24-nwith restrictions to the reduced power output mode by setting the weighting ratios. For example, but not limited to, after deducting 5 W, the control module3provides a power of 90 W. Further with adaptation of the control module3, the operation mode of the USB Type-A port is selectively adjusted to the disabled mode, or the USB Type-C ports are adjusted to the reduced power output mode, or the voltage/current provided by the output ports24-1to24-nis reduced after communicating with the electronic apparatus200through the handshake signal Sh, so that the consumption of these apparatuses does not exceed 90 W.

Refer toFIG.5showing a flowchart of a power management method for an expansion apparatus of the present invention, and also refer toFIG.1toFIG.4in combination. The power management method of the present invention is primarily used for the expansion apparatus100, and is primarily for preventing the total power Pt consumed by the expansion module2and the coupled electronic apparatus200from exceeding the predetermined power Ps that can be supplied by the power supply device1and hence from causing malfunction of the entire expansion apparatus100. Thus, the power management method of the present invention includes receiving a predetermined power provided from a power supply device, and receiving a device identifier provided by the power supply device to learn the predetermined power (S100). The present invention primarily uses the control module3to control the power supply device1and the expansion module2, and the expansion module2can receive the predetermined power Ps provided by the power supply device1and the device identifier ID through the input port22. The device identifier ID may notify the control module3of the type/specification of the power supply device1by means of coupling an ID pin or an ADC pin of the controller14to the control module3. Alternatively, the control module3may be notified of the type/specification of the power supply device1by means of coupling a Dallas 1-wire pin to the control module3.

Then, based on a condition that a total power consumed by the electronic apparatus and the expansion module is less than or equal to the predetermined power, the output ports are controlled to operate in a full power output mode (S200). When the control module3determines that the total power Pt consumed by the electronic apparatus200and the expansion module2is less than or equal to the predetermined power Ps, it means that the predetermined power Ps provided by the power supply device1is capable of fully meeting the power consumed by back-end devices, so the control module3controls the output ports24-1to24-nto operate in the full power output mode. Conversely, based on a condition that the total power is greater than or equal to the predetermined power, the output port with a lower weighting ratio is adjusted to a disabled mode or a reduced power output mode (S300). When the control module3determines that the total power Pt consumed by the electronic apparatus200and the expansion module2is greater than or equal to the predetermined power Ps, it means that the predetermined power Ps provided by the power supply device1is incapable of meeting the power consumed by the back-end devices. Thus, based on predetermined weighting ratios, the control module3preferentially adjusts the output ports with lower weighting ratios to the disabled mode or the reduced power output mode, so as to prevent the total power Pt consumed by the electronic apparatus200and the expansion module2from exceeding the predetermined power Ps and hence from causing malfunction of the entire expansion apparatus100.

The above description are merely details and drawings of preferred specific embodiments of the present invention, and it should be noted that the features of the present invention are not limited to the above examples and are not to be construed as limitations to the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is to be accorded with the appended claims. All embodiments within the spirit and embodiments similar to the claims of the present invention are to be covered within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, all equivalent changes and modifications conceivable to a person skill in the art are also to be encompassed within the scope of the claims of the present invention.