Controlling power in a multi-port USB power delivery system

Systems and methods may provide for a charger that includes a converter with a battery port, a first bypass switch coupled to a first bus port and the battery port, and a second bypass switch coupled to a second bus port and the battery port. Additionally, a charge controller may use one or more control signals to manage power to be delivered from the first bus port through the first bypass switch to the battery port, and power to be delivered from the second bus port through the second bypass switch to the battery port.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments generally relate to power delivery. More particularly, embodiments relate to controlling power in multi-port USB (Universal Serial Bus) power delivery systems.

BACKGROUND

Power delivery via USB (Universal Serial Bus, e.g., USB Specification 3.1, Rev. 1.0, Jul. 26, 2013, USB Implementers Forum) connections may involve providing and/or consuming power under various operating conditions. For example, a given USB connector that supports power delivery may be coupled to a charging circuit that is configured to sink (e.g., consume) power from a 12-20V input to quickly charge an internal battery of the device, sink power from a 5V input to allow charging from general purpose USB charger, and supply a 5V output to power a USB peripheral device. Conventional charging circuits may use several converters and power switches in order to support all of these functions. While recent developments in bidirectional converters may have reduced the number of converters supporting only a single USB connector, devices with multiple USB connectors may still use a separate Buck converter to provide the 5V output.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Turning now toFIG. 1, a multi-device charging arrangement is shown in which a first device10includes a bus port12that is coupled to a first bus port16of a second device14. Additionally, the illustrated second device14includes a second bus port18that is coupled to a bus port22of a third device20. The devices10,14,20may include battery powered devices such as, for example, notebook computers, tablet computers, convertible tablets, mobile Internet devices (MIDs), smart phones, wearable computers, media players, etc., wall powered devices such as, for example, alternating current (AC) adapters, desktop computers, servers, etc., or any combination thereof. Thus, in one example, the first device10is an AC adapter, the second device14is a notebook computer and the third device20is a smart phone. Other device configurations and charging arrangements may also be used.

In the illustrated example, the devices10,14,20, exchange power, control and/or mode selection signals via the bus ports12,16,18,22. For example, the second device14might send a mode signal to the first device10over a first connection24(e.g., control/mode selection connection), wherein the mode signal indicates that the second device14assumes a power consumer status relative to the first device10. In such a case, the first device10may assume a power provider status and supply power to the second device14over a second connection26(e.g., VBUS). The voltage level associated with the power supplied from the first device10to the second device14may be a fixed default level (e.g., contract voltage, 5V) or variable level (e.g., 5-20V) that is consumer-controlled in real-time by the second device14.

In the case of the consumer-controlled level, the second device14may use the first connection24to send one or more control signals to the first device10, wherein the control signals indicate real-time voltage levels associated with the power to be delivered to the first bus port16. As will be discussed in greater detail, the second device14may include a charger28that uses the power received at the first bus port16to charge an internal battery (not shown) and/or drive an internal load (e.g., processor, chipset, memory device; not shown). Dynamically controlling the power may enable faster charging of the battery and/or other high performance activities to be conducted by the second device14. Alternatively, the first device10may assume the power consumer status while the second device14assumes the power provider status (e.g., supplying either contract or consumer-controlled power). The first connection24and the second connection26may be combined into a single connection, depending on the circumstances.

Similarly, the second device14may send a mode signal to the third device20over a third connection30(e.g., mode/control selection connection), wherein the mode signal indicates that the second device14assumes the power consumer status relative to the third device20. In such a case, the third device20may assume the power provider status and supply power to the second device14over a fourth connection32. The voltage level associated with the power supplied from the third device20to the second device14may also be a fixed default level or variable level that is consumer-controlled in real-time by the second device14. Thus, to dynamically control the power, the second device14may use the third connection30to send one or more control signals to the third device20, wherein the control signals indicate real-time voltage levels associated with the power to be delivered to the second bus port18. The charger28may therefore also use the power received at the second bus port18to quickly charge the internal battery and/or drive internal loads.

Moreover, the charger28may use the control signals to balance the power received via the first bus port16with the power received via the second bus port18, as will be discussed in greater detail. Such an approach may reduce the likelihood of overheating along either of the power paths. In one example, the bus ports12,16,18,22, are USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports that support power delivery (PD). In such a case, the first connection24and/or the third connection30may include sideband use (SBU) connections, channel configuration (CC) connections, etc., or any combination thereof. Of particular note is that the illustrated charger28has a single-converter architecture. The single-converter architecture, which may substantially reduce the cost, complexity, size and/or weight of the second device14, may be particularly advantageous for small form factor devices.

FIG. 2shows one example of a single-converter charger architecture34that may be readily substituted for the charger28(FIG. 1), already discussed. In the illustrated example, the charger architecture34includes a bidirectional converter36having a battery port38connected to a battery40and a system load42(42a-42c). The system load42may include, for example, a processor42a, a chipset42b, a memory device42c, and so forth. The charger architecture34may also include a first bypass switch44coupled to a first bus port46and the battery port38, and a second bypass switch48coupled to a second bus port50and the battery port38. Thus, the first bus port46may be similar to the first bus port16(FIG. 1) and the second bus port50may be similar to the second bus port18(FIG. 1), already discussed. In one example, the bus ports46,50are USB Type-C PD ports.

Moreover, it is possible that the control signals and the mode selection signals reside on the same physical wires. Depending on the mode of communication, a single physical wire may contain the consumer control information and the mode selection information. If the control signal is embedded within the mode selection signal wire that is routed to the mode controller, then the mode controller may be the interface that passes the control signal between the charge controller and the port.

The illustrated charger architecture34includes a controller61having a mode controller62and a first configuration line64to carry a first mode signal between the first bus port46and the mode controller62, wherein the first mode signal indicates whether the charger architecture34assumes the power provider status or the power consumer status relative to a first device coupled to the first bus port46. Similarly, a second configuration line66may carry a second mode signal between the second bus port50and the mode controller62, wherein the second mode signal indicates whether the charger architecture34assumes the power provider status or the power consumer status relative to a second device coupled to the second bus port.

The mode controller62or a charge controller52of the controller61may use one or more control signals to manage power to be delivered from the first bus port46through the first bypass switch44to the battery port38, and power to be delivered from the second bus port50through the second bypass switch48to the battery port38. The illustrated mode controller62is aware of the mode in which it is operating, hence the switches may be either directly controlled by the mode controller62or indirectly controlled through the charge controller52. For example, a first communication line54may carry a first control signal from the charge controller52to the first bus port46, wherein the first control signal indicates a first real-time voltage level associated with the power to be delivered from the first bus port46through the first bypass switch44to the battery port38. Additionally, a second communication line56may carry a second control signal from the charge controller52to the second bus port50, wherein the second control signal indicates a second real-time voltage level associated with the power to be delivered from the second bus port50through the second bypass switch48to the battery port38.

As already noted, the charge controller52may balance the power delivered from the first bus port46through the first bypass switch44to the battery port38with the power delivered from the second bus port50through the second bypass switch48to the battery port. For example, if the battery40may only be charged at3A, then the charge controller52may adjust the control signals so that both the first bus port46and the second bus port50supply approximately 1.5 A each (e.g., rather than one supplying 2 A and the other supplying 1 A). Such an approach may prevent overheating along any particular path. In one example, switch mode power supplies are used and the control signals are pulse width modulated (PWM) signals capable of controlling the voltage and current output of the power supplies in real-time.

Additionally, the first communication line54may include a first enablement switch58and the second communication line56may include a second enablement switch60, wherein the charge controller52controls the first enablement switch58and the second enablement switch60based on one or more mode signals. Thus, if the first mode signal indicates that the charger architecture34assumes the power consumer status relative to a provider device coupled to the first bus port46, the charge controller52may activate the first enablement switch58in order to establish a consumer-control relationship with the provider device coupled to the first bus port46. Moreover, if the second mode signal indicates that the charger architecture34assumes the power consumer status relative to another provider device coupled to the second bus port50, the mode controller62or the charge controller52might activate the second enablement switch60in order to establish a consumer-control relationship with the provider device coupled to the second bus port50.

The charger architecture34may also include a plurality of current sensors68to conduct independent current measurements with respect to the first bypass switch44, the second bypass switch48and the battery port38. Additionally, a voltage sensor70may conduct one or more voltage measurements with respect to the battery port38, wherein the illustrated charge controller52generates the control signals based on the independent current measurements and/or the voltage measurements.

In one example, the charger architecture34includes a first contract voltage switch72coupled between the first bus port46and a contract voltage port74of the converter36. A second contract voltage switch76may be coupled between the second bus port50and the contract voltage port74, wherein the charge controller52may control the first contract voltage switch72and the second contract voltage switch76based on the status of the control signals. For example, if consumer-controlled power is not established via the first bus port46, the charge controller52may activate the first contract voltage switch72and deactivate the first bypass switch44in order to either receive the contract voltage (e.g., in consumer mode) from the first bus port46or supply the contract voltage (e.g., in provider mode) to the first bus port46. Similarly, if consumer-controlled power is not established via the second bus port50, the charge controller52may activate the second contract voltage switch76and deactivate the second bypass switch48in order to ether receive the contract voltage (e.g., in consumer mode) from the second bus port50or supply the contract voltage (e.g., in provider mode) to the second bus port50.

Turning now toFIG. 3, a method80of operating a charger such as, for example, the charger28(FIG. 1) and/or the charger architecture34(FIG. 2), is shown. The method80may be implemented as one or more modules in a set of logic instructions stored in a machine- or computer-readable storage medium such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), firmware, flash memory, etc., in configurable logic such as, for example, programmable logic arrays (PLAs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), in fixed-functionality hardware logic using circuit technology such as, for example, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) or transistor-transistor logic (TTL) technology, or any combination thereof.

The method80may generally be repeated for each of a plurality of bus ports in a device containing the charger. More particularly, illustrated processing block82provides for exchanging mode signals with one or more other devices connected to bus ports of the charger. A determination may be made at block84as to whether the charger is assuming the power consumer status with respect to the other device connected to one of the bus ports. If so, the other device assumes the power provider status and illustrated block86determines whether consumer-controlled power will be supplied by the provider device to the charger. If the result of block86is affirmative, a control signal may be sent to the provider device at block88, wherein the control signal indicates the real-time voltage level associated with power to be delivered from the provider device to the consumer device containing the charger. Block88may also include balancing the power the power delivered from one bus port through a first bypass switch with the power delivered from another bus port through another bypass switch, as already discussed. Illustrated block90receives the power from the provider device at the consumer-controlled voltage level and the determination at block86may repeat. If it is determined at block86that the power supplied by the provider device will not be consumer-controlled, block92may provide for receiving the power from the provider device at the contract voltage level (e.g., 5V).

If, on the other hand, it is determined at block84that the charger is not assuming the power consumer status with respect to the device connected to one of the bus ports, illustrated block94determines whether the charger is assuming the power provider status with respect to the other device connected to one of the bus ports. If so, the other device assumes the power consumer status and illustrated block96determines whether consumer-controlled power will be supplied by the charger to the consumer device. If the result of block96is affirmative, a control signal may be received by the provider device at block98, wherein the control signal indicates the real-time voltage level associated with power to be delivered from the charger to the consumer device. Illustrated block100supplies the power to the consumer device at the consumer-controlled voltage level and the determination at block96may repeat. If it is determined at block96that the power supplied by the charger will not be consumer-controlled, block102may provide for supplying the power from the charger at the contract voltage level (e.g., 5V).

ADDITIONAL NOTES AND EXAMPLES

Example 1 may include a single-converter charger architecture comprising a converter including a battery port, a first bypass switch coupled to a first bus port and the battery port, a second bypass switch coupled to a second bus port and the battery port, a charge controller, a first communication line to carry a first control signal from the charge controller to the first bus port, wherein the first control signal is to indicate a first real-time voltage level associated with power to be delivered from the first bus port through the first bypass switch to the battery port, a second communication line to carry a second control signal from the charge controller to the second bus port, wherein the second control signal is to indicate a second real-time voltage level associated with power to be delivered from the second bus port through the second bypass switch to the battery port, a plurality of current sensors to conduct independent current measurements with respect to the first bypass switch, the second bypass switch and the battery port, and a voltage sensor to conduct one or more voltage measurements with respect to battery port, wherein the charge controller is to generate the one or more control signals based on one or more of the independent current measurements or the one or more voltage measurements, and use the one or more control signals to manage the power to be delivered from the first bus port through the first bypass switch to the battery port, and the power to be delivered from the second bus port through the second bypass switch to the battery port.

Example 2 may include the single-converter charger architecture of Example 1, wherein the first communication line includes a first enablement switch and the second communication line includes a second enablement switch, and wherein the charge controller is to control the first enablement switch and the second enablement switch based on one or more mode signals.

Example 3 may include the single-converter charger architecture of Example 1, further including a mode controller, a first configuration line to carry a first mode signal between the first bus port and the mode controller, and a second configuration line to carry a second mode signal between the first bus port and the mode controller, wherein the first mode signal is to indicate whether the single-converter charger architecture assumes a power provider status or a power consumer status relative to a first device coupled to the first bus port and the second mode signal is to indicate whether the single-converter charger architecture assumes the power provider status or the power consumer status relative to a second device coupled to the second bus port.

Example 4 may include the single-converter charger architecture of any one of Examples 1 to 3, further including a first contract voltage switch coupled between the first bus port and a contract voltage port of the converter, and a second contract voltage switch coupled between the second bus port and the contract voltage port of the converter, wherein the charge controller is to control the first contract voltage switch and the second contract voltage switch based on a status of one or more of first control signal or the second control signal.

Example 5 may include a multi-port power delivery system, comprising a load including one or more of a processor, a chipset or a memory device, a first bus port, a second bus port, and a charger comprising a converter including a battery port coupled to the load, a first bypass switch coupled to the first bus port and the battery port, a second bypass switch coupled to the second bus port and the battery port, and a charge controller to use one or more control signals to manage power to be delivered from the first bus port through the first bypass switch to the battery port, and power to be delivered from the second bus port through the second bypass switch to the battery port.

Example 6 may include the system of Example 5, wherein the single-converter charger architecture further includes a first communication line to carry a first control signal from the charge controller to the first bus port, wherein the first control signal is to indicate a first real-time voltage level associated with the power to be delivered from the first bus port through the first bypass switch to the battery port, and a second communication line to carry a second control signal from the charge controller to the second bus port, wherein the second control signal is to indicate a second real-time voltage level associated with the power to be delivered from the second bus port through the second bypass switch to the battery port.

Example 7 may include the system of Example 6, wherein the charge controller is to balance the power to be delivered from the first bus port through the first bypass switch to the battery port with the power to be delivered from the second bus port through the second bypass switch to the battery port.

Example 8 may include the system of Example 6, wherein the first communication line includes a first enablement switch and the second communication line includes a second enablement switch, and wherein the charge controller is to control the first enablement switch and the second enablement switch based on one or more mode signals.

Example 9 may include the system of Example 5, wherein the single-converter charger architecture further includes a mode controller a first configuration line to carry a first mode signal between the first bus port and the mode controller, and a second configuration line to carry a second mode signal between the second bus port and the mode controller, wherein the first mode signal is to indicate whether the single-converter charger architecture assumes a power provider status or a power consumer status relative to a first device coupled to the first bus port and the second mode signal is to indicate whether the single-converter charger architecture assumes the power provider status or the power consumer status relative to a second device coupled to the second bus port.

Example 10 may include the system of any one of Examples 5 to 9, wherein the single-converter charger architecture further includes a first contract voltage switch coupled between the first bus port and a contract voltage port of the converter, an a second contract voltage switch coupled between the second bus port and the contract voltage port of the converter, wherein the charge controller is to control the first contract voltage switch and the second contract voltage switch based on a status of the one or more control signals.

Example 11 may include the system of any one of Examples 5 to 9, wherein the single-converter charger architecture further includes a plurality of current sensors to conduct independent current measurements with respect to the first bypass switch, the second bypass switch and the battery port, and a voltage sensor to conduct one or more voltage measurements with respect to the battery port, wherein the charge controller is to generate the one or more control signals based on one or more of the independent current measurements or the one or more voltage measurements.

Example 12 may include a method of operating a charger, comprising using one or more control signals to manage power to be delivered from a first bus port through a first bypass switch to a battery port of a converter, and power to be delivered from the second bus port through the second bypass switch to the battery port.

Example 13 may include the method of Example 12, further including sending, via a first communication line, a first control signal from the charge controller to the first bus port, wherein the first control signal indicates a first real-time voltage level associated with the power to be delivered from the first bus port through the first bypass switch to the battery port, and sending, via a second communication line, a second control signal from the charge controller to the second bus port, wherein the second control signal indicates a second real-time voltage level associated with the power to be delivered from the second bus port through the second bypass switch to the battery port.

Example 14 may include the method of Example 13, further including balancing the power delivered from the first bus port through the first bypass switch to the battery port with the power delivered from the second bus port through the second bypass switch to the battery port.

Example 15 may include the method of Example 13, further including controlling a first enablement switch of the first communication line and a second enable enablement switch of the second communication line based on one or more mode signals.

Example 16 may include the method of Example 12, further including transferring, via a first configuration line, a first mode signal between the first bus port and a mode controller, and transferring, via a second configuration line, a second mode signal between the second bus port and the mode controller, wherein the first mode signal indicates whether the single-converter charger architecture assumes a power provider status or a power consumer status relative to a first device coupled to the first bus port and the second mode signal indicates whether the single-converter charger architecture assumes the power provider status or the power consumer status relative to a second device coupled to the second bus port.

Example 17 may include the method of any one of Examples 12 to 16, further including controlling a first contract voltage switch and a second contract voltage switch based on a status of the one or more control signals, wherein the first contract voltage switch is coupled between the first bus port and a contract voltage port of the converter, and wherein the second contract voltage switch is coupled between the second bus port and the contract voltage port of the converter.

Example 18 may include the method of any one of Examples 12 to 16, further including conducting independent current measurements with respect to the first bypass switch, the second bypass switch and the battery port conducting one or more voltage measurements with respect to the battery port, and generating the one or more control signals based on one or more of the independent current measurements or the one or more voltage measurements.

Example 19 may include a single-converter charger architecture comprising a converter including a battery port, a first bypass switch coupled to a first bus port and the battery port, a second bypass switch coupled to a second bus port and the battery port, and a charge controller to use one or more control signals to manage power to be delivered from the first bus port through the first bypass switch to the battery port, and power to be delivered from the second bus port through the second bypass switch to the battery port.

Example 20 may include the single-converter charger architecture of Example 19, further including a first communication line to carry a first control signal from the charge controller to the first bus port, wherein the first control signal is to indicate a first real-time voltage level associated with the power to be delivered from the first bus port through the first bypass switch to the battery port, and a second communication line to carry a second control signal from the charge controller to the second bus port, wherein the second control signal is to indicate a second real-time voltage level associated with the power to be delivered from the second bus port through the second bypass switch to the battery port.

Example 21 may include the single-converter charger architecture of Example 20, wherein the charge controller is to balance the power delivered from the first bus port through the first bypass switch to the battery port with the power delivered from the second bus port through the second bypass switch to the battery port.

Example 22 may include the single-converter charger architecture of Example 20, wherein the first communication line includes a first enablement switch and the second communication line includes a second enablement switch, and wherein the charge controller is to control the first enablement switch and the second enablement switch based on one or more mode signals.

Example 23 may include the single-converter charger architecture of Example 19, further including a mode controller, a first configuration line to carry a first mode signal between the first bus port and the mode controller, and a second configuration line to carry a second mode signal between the first bus port and the mode controller, wherein the first mode signal is to indicate whether the single-converter charger architecture assumes a power provider status or a power consumer status relative to a first device coupled to the first bus port and the second mode signal is to indicate whether the single-converter charger architecture assumes the power provider status or the power consumer status relative to a second device coupled to the second bus port.

Example 24 may include the single-converter charger architecture of any one of Examples 19 to 23, further including a first contract voltage switch coupled between the first bus port and a contract voltage port of the converter, and a second contract voltage switch coupled between the second bus port and the contract voltage port of the converter, wherein the charge controller is to control the first contract voltage switch and the second contract voltage switch based on a status of the one or more control signals.

Example 25 may include the single-converter charger architecture of any one of Examples 19 to 23, further including a plurality of current sensors to conduct independent current measurements with respect to the first bypass switch, the second bypass switch and the battery port, and a voltage sensor to conduct one or more voltage measurements with respect to the battery port, wherein the charge controller is to generate the one or more control signals based on one or more of the independent current measurements or the one or more voltage measurements.

Example 26 may include a single-converter charger architecture comprising means for performing the method of any of Examples 12 to 18 in any combination or sub-combination thereof.

Thus, techniques may enable more than one provider to charge a system simultaneously. Moreover, the balancing of power may be controlled separately through dedicated control signals. Additionally, system cost, complexity, size and/or weight may be reduced through the use of a single-converter charger architecture.