Patent Description:
USB-PD is a new version of the USB standard which introduces the new USB connector form factor USB-C. USB-C will be the future standard for USB connections. USB-C connectors are not only small compared to previous USB connectors and support up to USB3. <NUM> data transfer speed, but they are also very rugged and symmetrical so that they fit in either direction. Finally, USB-C connectors have been designed to support power delivery to up to 100W.

The USB-C female jacks are integrated in such diverse devices like chargers, battery packs, mobile devices, laptops, monitors and docking stations.

This new type of connector as well as some of the USB-PD features are very attractive for products of power focused applications, such as but not limited to the lighting industry. However, the definition of high data-rates and additional functionalities make the USB-C patch cables extremely costly. As they contain a high number of conductors they are also stiff and may thus do not provide the desired level of flexibility for being installed in for instance lighting applications. Finally, USBIF has limited the maximum cable length in order to guarantee the high data-rate and display-port functionality. Full feature USB-PD cables are thus relatively costly and usually overdesigned for power focused applications. Since power focused applications such as lighting applications often require long cable length to connection application devices, for instance throughout a building site, it would be desirable to provide improved connectors and cables for power focused applications.

<CIT> discloses an apparatus and a method to use a power negotiation connection of a power delivery interface for transmitting or receiving control commands or, respectively, status information to/from a lighting device. The power negotiation connection can be used as a communication channel that is fully independent of the data connection, e.g., control commands, such as dim level or color, can be encoded in a vendor defined message of a related power negotiation protocol.

It is an object to provide improved connectors and cables for transmission of power and data for power focused applications.

The object is achieved by a (e.g. male) connector and a cable according to the independent claims.

According to an aspect of the invention a (e.g. male) connector attachable to a cable for transmission of power and data for use in power focused applications is provided. The male connector comprises a contact for power transmission, a contact for data communication and a conversion circuit configured to generate configuration signaling to be transmitted via a single twisted pair of signaling wire together with the power transmission, and/or the data communication.

Providing conversion circuitry within the connector allows to combine two or more signals and transmit the combined signal over a single pair of twisted signal wire. The connector thus allows the usage of a cable with high flexibility.

Configuration signaling refers to the signaling of power and voltage requests required by a connected application device and the subsequent negotiation signaling. The configuration signaling preferably uses USB-PD negotiation signals and the data communication preferably uses USB data signals according to the <NPL>, as part of the Universal Serial Bus Specification Revision <NUM> by the USB Implementers Forum which is herewith incorporated by reference.

Preferably, the male connector is provided for transmission of power and data in a lighting application. In lighting applications only minimal data throughput will be required, if any at all, and most of the focus can be put on low losses in the cable and e.g. an increased cable length (e.g. <NUM> or more). The trade-off will be made between losses and cable diameter and bending flexibility.

In an embodiment the male connector further comprises a contact for configuration signaling wherein the conversion circuit configured to generate configuration signaling comprises the conversion circuit being configured to decode and convert configuration signaling received via the contact for configuration signaling to be transmitted via a single twisted pair of signaling wire together with the power transmission, and/or the data communication. Preferably, the male connector complies with the USB-C form factor.

The present application discloses a connector (<NUM>, <NUM>) attachable to a cable for transmission of power and data for use in power focused applications comprising:a contact for power transmission (P),a contact for data communication (D), and a conversion circuit (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to generate configuration signaling (C) to be transmitted via a single twisted pair of signaling wire (<NUM>, 12a, 12b) together with the power transmission (P), and the data communication (D), wherein the configuration signaling (C) refers to the signaling of power and voltage requests required by a connected application device and the subsequent negotiation signaling; and characterized in that the connector (<NUM>) further comprising a contact for configuration signaling (C) wherein the conversion circuit (<NUM>) configured to generate configuration signaling (C) comprises the conversion circuit (<NUM>) being configured to decode and convert configuration signaling (C) received via the contact for configuration signaling (C) to be transmitted via a single twisted pair of signaling wire (<NUM>, 12a, 12b) together with the power transmission (P), and the data communication (D). The present application discloses a connector (<NUM>, <NUM>) attachable to a cable for transmission of power and data for use in power focused applications comprising:a contact for power transmission (P),a contact for data communication (D), anda conversion circuit (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to extract configuration signaling (C) from a transmission received from a single twisted pair of signaling wire (<NUM>, 12a, 12b), wherein the configuration signaling (C) refers to the signaling of power and voltage requests required by a connected application device and the subsequent negotiation signaling; wherein the transmission comprises the configuration signaling (C) together with the power transmission (P), and the data communication (D), wherein the connector further comprising a contact for configuration signaling (C).

<FIG> exemplary and schematically shows a male connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. The connector <NUM> according to this embodiment has a shape according to the USB-C form factor. A USB-C connector is compact, rugged and supports up to 100W. The connector is flipable because the pin definitions are symmetrically mirrored to allow plug insertion in either direction. The USB-C pin layout according to the <NPL> which is part of the <NPL> by the USB Implementers Forum, defines five distinct sections. One data pair is for USB2. <NUM>, two high speed data pairs for USB3. x, the bus power, sideband use pins SBU1/<NUM> are not used in USB mode, and configuration channel pins CC1/<NUM> are used for USB-PD related communication as well as for busmode and insertion direction detection. On the other side the connector is attachable to a cable <NUM>, wherein the cable may comprise one or more twisted pair cable, e.g. as described in the standards IEEE802.3bu and <NUM>. 3bp which are herewith incorporated by reference.

The connector <NUM> comprises a support sleeve <NUM>, preferably made of polycarbonate to cover a circuit board comprising a conversion circuit <NUM>. Preferably, the circuit board and the conversion circuit on it are protected by a precision welded metal shield <NUM> which is crimped around the circuit board. Wherein common USB-PD cables for highspeed data transmission usually comprise a plurality of cable wires, inter alia for power transmission, data transmission, control signaling, etc., the cable <NUM> comprises only a reduced number of cable wires, e.g. either a single twisted pair or a double twisted pair cable to transmit power P and data D/control C information as indicated in <FIG>. Wherein the conversion circuit <NUM> receives inter alia power transmission P, optionally configuration signaling C and data communication D as input, the output of the conversion circuits <NUM> is reduced to a single twisted pair, indicated with P in <FIG> or optionally a second twisted pair, indicated with the dashed line labeled D in <FIG>. The provision of contacts for control signaling is optional. USB-C connectors provide such contacts. However, the control signaling can also be generated by the conversion circuitry <NUM> provided in the connector to handle power negotiations on behalf of a connected load. Accordingly, the conversion circuitry <NUM> integrated with the connector <NUM> is able to do the USB-PD negotiation locally or transfer, e.g. receive, decode, translate, the configuration signaling C needed for power negotiation with a powered device and add it either to the data communication D or modulated on the power transmission P. In a single twisted pair cable implementation even the data signal wires are removed from the cable and all information C+D is transferred using powerline communication on the power transmission line P. The conversion circuitry may be preprogrammed during manufacturing or commissioning. It may also be (re)programmed during operation. For instance, for a USB3 compatible power request signaling (by means of signals CC1 and CC2) the power parameters may be programmed to the conversion circuitry, e.g. fixed to sinking 5V and 1A. The other side of the cable could be equipped with any of the USB appliance connectors like micro or mini USB or an application specific connector, which do not provide for the configuration signaling. For such connectors, the conversion circuitry facilitates the generation of configuration signaling.

At the other end of the cable <NUM> there is again a male connector <NUM> also comprising a conversion circuit <NUM> which is adapted to perform the inverse conversion from the signal or signals received via the respective twisted pair cables labeled P and optionally D to extract the respective output signals, the power transmission P, the configuration signaling C and the data communication D. Preferably, the conversion circuits <NUM> and <NUM> have the same structure, and thus preferably allow the translation of signals in both directions which allows bidirectional signal conversion. For instance, if both cable ends are equipped with USB-C connectors, then there is the possibility of bidirectional powerflow. The coding and decoding of the configuration signaling should be fully symmetric in order to give users full flexibility in which direction the cable is used. In that case, the user does not have to pay attention as to the cabling direction. However, there might be applications in which a unidirectional powerflow is sufficient or even favorable. Then, the circuitry may be reduced to provide such unidirectional powerflow and the corresponding control signaling. For example, when one side of the cable is a Hostside USB connector, e.g. fitting in the socket in a computer, or an appliance side USB connector, e.g. fitting into a mobile device like a smartphone, this automatically sets the possible power flow direction. Hence, there is no need for symmetrical processing of the configuration signaling. However, the dataflow is still symmetric. The conversion circuits on both side may then differ in their functionality. The second connector <NUM> may also have any other appropriate design, either complying with any other USB form factor or with an application specific plug compliant with the signal received via the single or optionally double twisted pair.

<FIG> exemplary and schematically shows a first version of the conversion circuit of a male connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. As described in connection with <FIG>, power transmission P, data communication D and optionally configuration signaling C are received via the contact pins of the male connector <NUM>. The circuitry <NUM> may identify itself as USB3. x connection using the appropriate contacts of a USB-C jack or only a <NUM>. x connection using the central data pair contacts. In USB3 the data channel is two data pairs and the power limits are higher. The cable may identify as a valid USB3 cable, e.g. to get the extended power range, and still use only one data pair in the cable for the transmission. Thus, the total data rate will be reduced against expectations of USB3. In applications which focus on power rather than data, this might be advantageous. The conversion circuit <NUM> comprises configuration signaling circuitry <NUM> which decodes the configuration signaling C received via the respective contacts. If the connector does not provide contacts for control signaling, the configuration signaling circuitry <NUM> may generate these signals, e.g. CC1 and CC2 defined for USB-PD control signaling. The parameters to generate the control signaling may be preprogrammed and stored in the conversion circuitry, e.g. in a memory. They may be preprogrammed during manufacturing or commissioning. There may be a plurality of parameters stored and associated with respective device types, such that upon connection with a load, the load may identify itself and the configuration signaling circuitry <NUM> may determine the respective parameters to generate the control signaling C. Configuration signaling circuitry <NUM> further translates the decoded or generated configuration signaling C into a format compliant with the data communication D. Both, the output of configuration signaling circuitry112 and the data communication D are input into hub <NUM> which combines the data communication D, e.g. USB communication data flow, with the information related to the USB-PD management. The output C+D of hub <NUM> is transmitted via a twisted pair 12b along a second twisted pair 12a used for the power transmission P. The conversion circuit <NUM> optionally comprises a power supply regulator <NUM> which supplies all the circuitry with power.

<FIG> exemplary and schematically shows a second version of the conversion circuit of male connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. The conversion circuits <NUM> differs from the conversion the circuits according to the version shown in <FIG> in that the configuration signaling C is powerline modulated onto the power transmission to be transmitted via the power transmission cable. In order to achieve that, the output of configuration signaling circuitry112 is provided to modulator <NUM> which generates a high-frequency signal from the decoded configuration signaling C. This high-frequency signal is combined with the power transmission P via filter unit <NUM> comprising a capacitor and an inductor. The inductor is used to only conduct the DC component for the power transmission and the capacitor is conducting the high frequency content as used for data transmission. Both components ensure that no unintentional RF or DC flow occurs. Wherein the data communication is transmitted via one twisted pair cable 12b', the power transmission P and configuration signaling C information is transmitted to a respective connector <NUM> at the other end of the cable via twisted pair cable 12a'.

<FIG> exemplary and schematically shows a third version of the conversion circuit of a male connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this version of an embodiment of the present invention only a single twisted pair of signaling wire is used to transmit power P, data D and signaling information C. The conversion circuit <NUM> comprises the combined circuitry of the embodiments depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>. The output of configuration signaling circuitry112 is provided to hub <NUM>, where it is combined with the data communication D. The combined output is received by modulator <NUM> which generates a high-frequency signal from the combined signal. This high-frequency signal is combined with the power transmission P via filter unit <NUM> comprising a capacitor and an inductor for the same reason as explained above for <FIG>.

In this embodiment the information about voltage and power request, e.g. the configuration signaling C, is transferred by means of powerline communication on the power conductors P of the cable <NUM>. This cable <NUM> only comprises one twisted pair optimized for power delivery at high efficiency. It also supports data communication D by choosing appropriate isolation so as to allow reliable data and power transmission over a single twisted pair as e.g. described in the standards IEEE802.3bu and <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A connector (<NUM>, <NUM>) attachable to a cable for transmission of power and data for use in power focused applications comprising:
a contact for power transmission (P),
a contact for data communication (D), and
a conversion circuit (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to generate configuration signaling (C) to be transmitted via a single twisted pair of signaling wire (<NUM>, 12a, 12b) together with the power transmission (P), and the data communication (D), wherein the configuration signaling (C) refers to the signaling of power and voltage requests required by a connected application device and the subsequent negotiation signaling; and characterized in that the connector (<NUM>) further comprising a contact for configuration signaling (C) wherein the conversion circuit (<NUM>) configured to generate configuration signaling (C) comprises the conversion circuit (<NUM>) being configured to decode and convert configuration signaling (C) received via the contact for configuration signaling (C) to be transmitted via a single twisted pair of signaling wire (<NUM>, 12a, 12b) together with the power transmission (P), and the data communication (D).