Patent Description:
This disclosure relates generally to the field of circuit protection devices, and relates more particularly to a universal serial bus cable with integrated thermal protection. In particular the invention relates to a system according to claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined by the dependent claims.

Universal serial bus (USB) cables are increasingly used to deliver power to electronic devices in addition to their more traditional role of facilitating data communication. With the recent advent of the USB-C standard, USB cables can now deliver up to <NUM> Watts of power, thus facilitating high power applications that were previously unachievable via USB connection. However, it has been observed that the delivery of such high power can result in thermal damage to USB cables, especially in cases where the pins of a USB cable are dirty, bent, or otherwise predisposed to suboptimal connectivity.

The abstract of <CIT> states: 'Methods and apparatuses, including computer program code are disclosed herein that provide damage protection to cables and connectors. In one aspect, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may include an electrical connector comprising a power supply pin and at least one control pin. The apparatus may further include a protective element configured to change a state of the at least one control pin to cause the power supply pin to become inactive. The protective element may be integrated with the electrical connector and/or integrated at one or more locations along the length of a cable.

One technique that has been employed for protecting against overcurrent/overheating in USB cables is the installation of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element in series with the power carrying conductors of a USB cable, wherein the PTC element has a resistance that increases as the temperature of the PTC element increases. Thus, as current passing through the PTC element increases above a predefined limit, the PTC element may heat up, causing the resistance of the PTC element to increase and drastically reduce or arrest the flow of current through the USB cable. Damage that would otherwise result from unmitigated fault currents flowing through the USB cable is thereby prevented.

While the above-described application of PTC elements in USB cables has provided a practical solution for protecting against overcurrents and overheating in earlier, lower-power (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM> watt) generations of USB cables, similar applications in modem, USB-C standard cables presents significant challenges. Particularly, a PTC element capable of handling <NUM> watts of power is prohibitively large and expensive for practical commercial application in a USB cable.

An exemplary embodiment of a cable in accordance with the present disclosure may include a power conductor configured to transmit electrical power between a first device and a second device, a first data conductor configured to transmit data between the first device and the second device, and a first protection circuit coupled to the first data conductor and associated with a first temperature sensing element, the first protection circuit configured to mitigate current flowing through the first data conductor if a temperature detected by the first temperature sensing element rises above a predefined first trip temperature, wherein the opening of the first data line indicates a fault condition to a device to which the cable is connected, whereby electrical power flowing through the power conductor is resultantly mitigated.

An exemplary embodiment of a system for over-temperature protection in a cable in accordance with the present disclosure may include a first device and a second device connected to one another by the cable, wherein the cable includes a power conductor configured to transmit electrical power between the first device and the second device, a first data conductor configured to transmit data between the first device and the second device, and a first protection circuit coupled to the first data conductor and associated with a first temperature sensing element, the first protection circuit configured to mitigate current flowing through the first data conductor if a temperature detected by the first temperature sensing element rises above a predefined first trip temperature, wherein at least one of the first device and the second device is configured to reduce an amount of electrical power transmitted via the power conductor upon mitigation of the current flowing through the first data conductor.

A data/power transmission cable with integrated thermal protection in accordance with the present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which preferred embodiments of the cable are presented. The cable may, however, be embodied in many different forms and may be configured to conform to various standards (e.g., IEEE standards) and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the cable to those skilled in the art.

Referring to <FIG>, a schematic diagram illustrating a pin layout for a USB-C data/power transmission cable <NUM> (herein after "the cable <NUM>") in accordance with the present disclosure is shown. As dictated by the USB-C standard, the cable <NUM> includes ground conductors <NUM>, high speed (USB <NUM>, <NUM> mbps) data conductors <NUM>, super speed+ (USB <NUM>, <NUM> Gbps) data conductors <NUM>, power conductors <NUM>, sideband use conductors <NUM>, a configuration channel conductor <NUM> (hereinafter "the CC conductor <NUM>"), and a Vconn conductor <NUM>. Of particular relevance to the present disclosure are the power conductors <NUM>, the CC conductor <NUM>, and the Vconn conductor <NUM>.

As will be familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art, the CC conductor <NUM> allows devices that are connected by the cable <NUM> to determine whether the devices are, in-fact, connected to each other via the cable <NUM> and to transmit power and/or data over the cable <NUM> based on such determination. Specifically, if a device to which the cable <NUM> is connected detects a predetermined resistance on the CC conductor <NUM>, such resistance being indicative of a valid connection with another device on the opposing end of the cable <NUM>, then the device may transmit data and/or power over appropriate conductors of the cable <NUM>. Conversely, if the device fails to detect a predetermined resistance on the CC conductor <NUM>, indicating the lack of a valid connection with a device on the opposing end of the cable <NUM>, then the device will not transmit data or power over the cable <NUM>. The function of the CC conductor <NUM> as it relates to the embodiments of the present disclosure will be discussed in greater detail below.

As will also be familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art, the Vconn conductor <NUM> is used to dictate high power (e.g., > <NUM> watts, and typically <NUM> watts) operation of the cable <NUM>. Specifically, the Vconn conductor <NUM> includes an integrated circuit (IC) <NUM> (see <FIG>) provided with logic that is configured to indicate to connected devices that the cable <NUM> is capable of handling high power transmission. For example, if a device that is connected to the cable <NUM> determines from the IC <NUM> that the cable <NUM> is configured to handle high power, the device may subsequently transmit high power over the cable <NUM> via the power conductors <NUM>. Conversely, if the connected device does not receive an indication that the cable <NUM> is configured to handle high power, the device will not transmit high power over the cable <NUM> and will instead only transmit low power (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM> watts) over the cable <NUM> via the power conductors <NUM>. The determination of whether to transmit high power or only low power over the cable <NUM> is made by a device only upon initial connection of the cable <NUM> to the device.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic diagram illustrating the CC conductor <NUM>, the Vconn conductor <NUM>, one of the power conductors <NUM>, and one of the ground conductors <NUM> of the cable <NUM> connected to a source device <NUM> and to a sink device <NUM> (hereinafter "the source <NUM>" and "the sink <NUM>") is shown. It will be understood that the power conductor <NUM> and the ground conductor <NUM> shown in <FIG> are representative of all of the power conductors <NUM> and ground conductors <NUM> of the cable <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The CC conductor <NUM> may include a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element <NUM> connected inline therewith (e.g., via thermal bonding) such that the PTC element <NUM> is electrically in series with the source <NUM> and the sink <NUM> when the cable <NUM> is connected therebetween. The PTC element <NUM> may be formed of any type of PTC material (e.g., polymeric PTC material, ceramic PTC material, etc.) configured to have an electrical resistance that increases as the temperature of the PTC element <NUM> increases. Particularly, the PTC element <NUM> may be configured to have a predetermined "trip temperature" above which the electrical resistance of the PTC element <NUM> rapidly and drastically increases (e.g., in a nonlinear fashion) in order to substantially arrest current passing through the CC conductor <NUM>. In a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the cable <NUM>, the PTC element <NUM> may have a trip temperature in a range of <NUM> degrees Fahrenheit to <NUM> degrees Fahrenheit.

While the CC conductor <NUM> is shown as having only a single PTC element <NUM> coupled thereto, embodiments of the cable <NUM> are contemplated in which a plurality of PTC elements are implemented on the CC conductor <NUM>. For example, referring to <FIG>, the cable <NUM> may include one PTC element <NUM> on the CC conductor <NUM> adjacent one end of the cable <NUM> (e.g., the end connected to the source <NUM>) and a second PTC element <NUM> on the CC conductor <NUM> adjacent the opposing end of the cable <NUM> (e.g., the end connected to the source <NUM>). Additionally, or alternatively, referring to <FIG>, it is contemplated that PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be implemented on one or both of the CC conductors <NUM>, <NUM> of the source <NUM> and the sink <NUM> that are connected to the CC conductor <NUM> of the cable <NUM>, wherein the PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> function in a manner identical to the PTC element <NUM> described above to provide the cable <NUM>, the source <NUM>, and the sink <NUM> with thermal protection as further described below.

During operation of the cable <NUM>, if the temperature of the PTC element <NUM> increases above its trip temperature, such as may result from an overcurrent condition in the cable <NUM> or from exposure to an external heat source (e.g., the sun, a hot computer chassis, etc.), the PTC element <NUM> may exhibit high electrical resistance and may arrest current flowing through the CC conductor <NUM>. Thus, the CC conductor <NUM> will appear to the source <NUM> and to the sink <NUM> to be "open" (i.e., disconnected), thereby causing the source <NUM> and the sink <NUM> to cease transmitting data and power via the cable <NUM>. Subsequently, when the PTC element <NUM> cools down to a temperature below its trip temperature and becomes electrically conductive again, the CC conductor <NUM> will appear to the source <NUM> and to the sink <NUM> to be "closed" (i.e., connected), and the source <NUM> and the sink <NUM> will resume transmitting data and/or power via the cable <NUM>. The PTC element <NUM> thus acts as a resettable fuse that mitigates overheating in the cable <NUM> to prevent thermal damage. Advantageously, since the PTC element <NUM> is implemented on the CC conductor <NUM> and not on the power conductor <NUM>, the PTC element <NUM> need only be rated to hold nominal electrical currents (e.g., <NUM> microamps) transmitted on the CC conductor <NUM> regardless of the amount of current transmitted on the power conductor <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> amps). The PTC element <NUM> may therefore be small and inexpensive, making the cost and the size of the cable <NUM> commercially practical.

Referring now to <FIG>, an embodiment of the cable <NUM> is shown in which a second PTC element <NUM> is implemented on the Vconn conductor <NUM> (e.g., via thermal bonding to the Vconn conductor <NUM>). As with PTC element <NUM> described above, the PTC element <NUM> may be configured to have an electrical resistance that increases as the temperature of the PTC element <NUM> increases. Particularly, the PTC element <NUM> may be configured to have a predetermined "trip temperature" at which the electrical resistance of the PTC element <NUM> rapidly and drastically increases (e.g., in a nonlinear fashion) in order to substantially arrest current passing through the Vconn conductor <NUM>. In a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the cable <NUM>, the trip temperature of the PTC element <NUM> may be lower than that of the PTC element <NUM> described above and may be in a range of <NUM> degrees Fahrenheit to <NUM> degrees Fahrenheit.

While the Vconn conductor <NUM> is shown as having only a single PTC element <NUM> coupled thereto, embodiments of the cable <NUM> are contemplated in which a plurality of PTC elements are implemented on the Vconn conductor <NUM>. For example, referring to <FIG>, the cable <NUM> may include one PTC element <NUM> on the Vconn conductor <NUM> adjacent one end of the cable <NUM> (e.g., the end connected to the source <NUM>) and a second PTC element <NUM> on the Vconn conductor <NUM> adjacent the opposing end of the cable <NUM> (e.g., the end connected to the source <NUM>). Additionally, or alternatively, referring to <FIG>, it is contemplated that PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be implemented on one or both of the Vconn conductors <NUM>, <NUM> of the source <NUM> and the sink <NUM> that are connected to the Vconn conductor <NUM> of the cable <NUM>, wherein the PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> function in a manner identical to the PTC element <NUM> described above to provide the cable <NUM>, the source <NUM>, and the sink <NUM> with thermal protection as further described below.

The PTC element <NUM> may serve to prevent high power operation of the cable <NUM> in high temperature conditions which may present an increased risk of thermal damage to the cable <NUM> if high power operation were allowed. For example, if, prior to connecting the cable <NUM> to the source <NUM> and the sink <NUM>, the cable <NUM> has been exposed to high temperatures (e.g., as a result of sitting out in the sun), the temperature of the PTC element <NUM> may be above its trip temperature. If the UCB cable <NUM> is then connected to the source <NUM> and to the sink <NUM> while the PTC element <NUM> is still "tripped," it will appear to one or both the source <NUM> and sink <NUM> that the Vconn conductor <NUM> is open, and the source and/or the sink <NUM>, <NUM> will only transmit low power on the power conductor <NUM>. As described above, the trip temperature of the PTC element <NUM> may be lower than the trip temperature of the PTC element <NUM> so that low power operation of cable <NUM> may be permitted (i.e., the CC conductor <NUM> will remain closed) at temperatures that would present an increased risk of thermal damage to the cable <NUM> if the cable <NUM> were allowed to transmit high power.

It will be appreciated that the configuration of the cable <NUM> described above can be similarly applied to power/data transmission cables that conform to standards other than USB-C. For example, the above-described configuration, which includes a PTC element implemented on a configuration channel conductor of a USB cable for dictating the delivery of power on a separate power conductor of the USB cable, can be similarly implemented in cables that conform to the Apple Lightning standard, the Apple Thunderbolt standard, various generations of the Qualcomm Quick Charge standard, and earlier USB standards. In data/power transmission cables that do not have a direct equivalent to the configuration channel conductors of the USB-C standard (e.g., cables that conform to various generations of the Qualcomm Quick Charge standard), it is contemplated that the data lines of such cables can be utilized in the manner of the CC conductor <NUM> and the Vconn conductor <NUM> described above when such cables are being used in a charging-only capacity (an example of such an embodiment is described below). More generally, it is contemplated that the functionality of the cable <NUM> described above can be similarly achieved in any data/power transmission cable that conforms to existing or future protocols by putting a PTC element on one or more "non-power-carrying" conductors of such cables, where such conductors are used to detect the presence of a source/sink connection and/or a level of charging voltage/current. The embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited in this regard.

Referring to <FIG>, a schematic diagram illustrating a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of a Qualcomm Quick Charge <NUM> cable <NUM> (hereinafter "the cable <NUM>") in accordance with the present disclosure is shown. As dictated by the Qualcomm Quick Charge <NUM> standard, the cable <NUM> includes a ground conductor <NUM>, a D+ data conductor <NUM>, a D- data conductor <NUM>, and a power conductor <NUM>. In a typical application, the cable <NUM> may be used to connect a source device <NUM> (e.g., a source of electrical power) to a sink device <NUM> that is being charged (hereinafter "the source <NUM>" and "the sink <NUM>") as shown.

As will be familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art, the cable <NUM> may be used to selectively transmit power at one of several different voltage levels (5V, 9V, 12V, or 20V) from the source <NUM> to the sink <NUM>, wherein the voltage level is dictated by the sink <NUM>. Particularly, if the sink <NUM> requires power at 5V, the sink <NUM> will apply <NUM>. 6V on the D+ data conductor <NUM> and will pull the D- data conductor <NUM> to ground, which causes the source <NUM> to apply 5V on the power conductor <NUM>. If the sink <NUM> requires power at 9V, the sink <NUM> will apply <NUM>. 3V on the D+ data conductor <NUM> and will apply <NUM>. 6V on the D- data conductor <NUM>, which causes the source <NUM> to apply 9V on the power conductor <NUM>. If the sink <NUM> requires power at 12V, the sink <NUM> will apply <NUM>. 6V on the D+ data conductor <NUM> and will apply <NUM>. 6V on the D- data conductor <NUM>, which causes the source <NUM> to apply 12V on the power conductor <NUM>. If the sink <NUM> requires power at 20V, the sink <NUM> will apply <NUM>. 3V on the D+ data conductor <NUM> and will apply <NUM>. 3V on the D- data conductor <NUM>, which causes the source <NUM> to apply 20V on the power conductor <NUM>. If one or both of the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> appears to the source <NUM> to be disconnected or "open," the source <NUM> will default to low power operation and will apply 5V on the power conductor <NUM>.

In accordance with the present disclosure, each of the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> may include a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element <NUM>, <NUM> connected inline therewith (e.g., via thermal binding) such that the PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> are electrically in series with the source <NUM> and the sink <NUM> during use of the cable <NUM>. The PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed of any type of PTC material (e.g., polymeric PTC material, ceramic PTC material, etc.) configured to have electrical resistances that increase as the temperatures of the PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> increase. Particularly, the PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured to have predetermined "trip temperatures" above which the electrical resistances of the PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> rapidly and drastically increase (e.g., in a nonlinear fashion) in order to substantially arrest currents passing through the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM>. In a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the cable <NUM>, the PTC element <NUM>, <NUM> may have a trip temperature in a range of <NUM> degrees Fahrenheit to <NUM> degrees Fahrenheit. While the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> are each shown as having only a single PTC element <NUM>, <NUM> coupled thereto, embodiments of the cable <NUM> are contemplated in which a plurality of PTC elements are implemented on one or both of the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM>. For example, the cable <NUM> may include PTC elements on the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> adjacent one end of the cable <NUM> as well as PTC elements on the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> adjacent the opposing end of the cable <NUM>.

While the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> are each shown as having only a single PTC element <NUM>, <NUM> coupled thereto, embodiments of the cable <NUM> are contemplated in which a plurality of PTC elements are implemented on one or both of the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM>. For example, referring to <FIG>, the cable <NUM> may include respective PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> on the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> adjacent one end of the cable <NUM> (e.g., the end connected to the source <NUM>) as well as respective PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> on the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> adjacent the opposing end of the cable <NUM> (e.g., the end connected to the source <NUM>). Additionally or alternatively, referring to <FIG>, it is contemplated that respective PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be implemented on one or both of the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> of the source <NUM> and/or on one or both of the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> of the sink <NUM> that are connected to the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> of the cable <NUM>, wherein the PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> function in a manner identical to the PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> described above to provide the cable <NUM>, the source <NUM>, and the sink <NUM> with thermal protection as further described below.

During operation of the cable <NUM>, if the temperature of the PTC element <NUM> and/or the PTC element <NUM> increases above its trip temperature, such as may result from an overcurrent condition in the cable <NUM> or from exposure to an external heat source (e.g., the sun, a hot computer chassis, etc.), the PTC element <NUM> and/or the PTC element <NUM> may exhibit high electrical resistance and may arrest current flowing through the D+ data conductor <NUM> and/or the D- data conductor <NUM>, respectively. Thus, the D+ data conductor <NUM> and/or the D- data conductor <NUM> will appear to the source <NUM> to be "open" (i.e., disconnected), thereby causing the source <NUM> to default to low power operation and will apply 5V on the power conductor <NUM>. High power operation is therefore prevented when the cable <NUM> is in an overheated state, thereby mitigating damage that might otherwise result if the cable were allowed to transmit high power.

When the PTC element <NUM> and/or the PTC element <NUM> cools down to a temperature below its trip temperature and becomes electrically conductive again, the D+ data conductor <NUM> and/or the D- data conductor <NUM> will appear to the source <NUM> and to the sink <NUM> to be "closed" (i.e., connected), and conventional operation of the cable <NUM> may resume. The PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> thus act as resettable fuses that mitigate overheating in the cable <NUM> to prevent thermal damage thereto. Advantageously, since the PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> are implemented on the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> and not on the power conductor <NUM>, the PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> need only be rated to hold nominal electrical currents (e.g., <NUM> milliamps) transmitted on the D+ data conductor <NUM> and the D- data conductor <NUM> regardless of the amount of current transmitted on the power conductor <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> amps). The PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM> may therefore be small and inexpensive, making the cost and the size of the cable <NUM> commercially practical.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is contemplated that various temperature sensing and switching devices may be substituted for the PTC elements described above to facilitate substantially similar over-temperature protection in the cable <NUM>. For example, referring to <FIG>, a schematic diagram illustrating a non-limiting, alternative embodiment of the cable <NUM> is illustrated. As shown, the PTC element <NUM> described above is replaced by a protection circuit <NUM>. The protection circuit <NUM> may include a switching element <NUM> connected in-line with the CC conductor <NUM>, a control element <NUM> connected to the switching element <NUM> and configured to selectively open and close the switching element <NUM>, and a temperature sensing element <NUM> connected to the control element <NUM>. The temperature sensing element <NUM> may be adapted to provide an input to the control element <NUM>, the input being indicative of an ambient temperature sensed by the temperature sensing element <NUM>.

During operation of the cable <NUM>, if the control element <NUM> determines that the temperature indicated by the temperature sensing element <NUM> exceeds a predefined maximum operating temperature, the control element <NUM> may output a signal to the switching element <NUM> to cause the switching element <NUM> to open and arrest current following through the CC conductor <NUM>. Thus, the CC conductor <NUM> will appear to the source <NUM> and to the sink <NUM> to be "open" (i.e., disconnected), thereby causing the source <NUM> and the sink <NUM> to cease transmitting data and power via the cable <NUM>. Subsequently, when the temperature sensing element <NUM> cools down, the control element <NUM> may determine that the temperature indicated by the temperature sensing element <NUM> is at or below the predefined maximum operating temperature and may output a signal to the switching element <NUM> to close the switching element <NUM>. The CC conductor <NUM> will appear to the source <NUM> and to the sink <NUM> to be "closed" (i.e., connected), and the source <NUM> and the sink <NUM> will resume transmitting data and/or power via the cable <NUM>. The protection circuit <NUM> thus acts as a resettable fuse that mitigates overheating in the cable <NUM> to prevent thermal damage. Advantageously, since the protection circuit <NUM> is implemented on the CC conductor <NUM> and not on the power conductor <NUM>, the protection circuit <NUM> need only be capable of holding nominal electrical currents (e.g., <NUM> microamps) transmitted on the CC conductor <NUM> regardless of the amount of current transmitted on the power conductor <NUM> (e.g., <NUM> amps). The protection circuit <NUM> may therefore be small and inexpensive, making the cost and the size of the cable <NUM> commercially practical.

In various embodiments of the cable <NUM>, the switching element <NUM> may be a field effect transistor (FET), a solid state relay (SSR), or another switching element capable of making and breaking an electrical connection between a power input and a power output in response to a signal received on a control input of the switching element <NUM>. The temperature sensing element <NUM> may be any type of suitable temperature sensing device that can be implemented within the form factor of the cable <NUM> and that is capable of providing an output indicative of a temperature of the temperature sensing element <NUM>. In various non-limiting embodiments, the temperature sensing element <NUM> may be implemented using a thermistor or a thermocouple, for example. The control element <NUM> may be, or may include, a control device such as a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other similar control device. The control element <NUM> may include a memory (e.g., an EPROM or the like), as well as logic elements capable of comparing a temperature indicated by the signal received from the temperature sensing element <NUM> to a predefined maximum operating temperature (e.g., stored in the memory of the control element <NUM>) and providing a corresponding output signal to the switching element <NUM>. In various embodiments, the control element <NUM> may draw electrical power from the power conductors <NUM> or from the Vconn conductor <NUM> of the cable <NUM>, for example. In other embodiments, the control element <NUM> may draw electrical power from a single DC power line in the cable <NUM> in the manner described in <CIT>, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

While the embodiment of the cable <NUM> shown in <FIG> includes only a single protection circuit <NUM> implemented on the CC conductor <NUM>, it is contemplated that the protection circuit <NUM> can be substituted for any of the PTC elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> in any of the embodiments of the cables <NUM>, <NUM> described above and shown in <FIG>. That is, one or more protection circuits <NUM> can be implemented on one or more of the data conductors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and/or in one or more of the sources <NUM>, <NUM> and sinks <NUM>, <NUM> described above.

While the protection circuit <NUM> is described above as being implemented as a separate, independent device package within the cable <NUM>, various alternative embodiments are contemplated in which the protection circuit <NUM> may be incorporated into other integrated circuits within a USB cable (or similar cables). For example, in the non-limiting embodiment shown in <FIG>, the cable <NUM> may be an electronically marked cable that includes one or more electronic-marker integrated circuits (e-marker ICs) <NUM> disposed in-line with the Vconn conductor <NUM> and connected to the CC conductor <NUM> and the ground conductor <NUM>. The e-marker IC <NUM> may be configured to facilitate high-power operation of the cable <NUM> in a manner that will be familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art. The protection circuit <NUM> described above, including one or more of the switching element <NUM>, the control element <NUM>, and the temperature sensing element <NUM>, may be integrated within the e-marker IC <NUM>. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard, and it is contemplated that the protection circuit <NUM> may be integral to various other types of integrated circuits or elements that are implemented within USB cables (or similar cables).

Claim 1:
A system comprising a cable (<NUM>) and a first device (<NUM>) and a second device (<NUM>), the cable (<NUM>) comprising:
a power conductor (<NUM>) configured to transmit electrical power between the first device (<NUM>) and the second device (<NUM>);
a first data conductor (<NUM>) configured to transmit data between the first device (<NUM>) and the second device (<NUM>) characterized in that the cable further comprises
a first protection circuit (<NUM>) coupled to the first data conductor (<NUM>) and including a first temperature sensing element (<NUM>), the first protection circuit (<NUM>) configured to mitigate current flowing through the first data conductor (<NUM>) if a temperature detected by the first temperature sensing element (<NUM>) rises above a predefined first trip temperature, wherein at least one of the first device (<NUM>) and the second device (<NUM>) is configured to reduce an amount of electrical power transmitted via the power conductor (<NUM>) upon mitigation of the current flowing through the first data conductor(<NUM>).