IP Library Granted Patent US 12688145
Granted Patent B2
US 12688145 · App. 18/660,819 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Power transmission chip, adapter, and control method

Inventors: Chih-Hsien Yang (Hsinchu City, TW); Jen-Chih Liu (Kaohsiung City, TW); Chieh-Sheng Tu (Hsinchu City, TW)
Assignee: Nuvoton Technology Corporation
G06F13/4291G06F13/385G06F2213/0042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12688145
App. No.
18/660,819
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power transmission chip is coupled between an external converter circuit and a controller chip and includes a first transmitting interface, an internal converter circuit, a second transmitting interface, and a processing circuit. The first transmitting interface is coupled to the external converter circuit to receive a conversion voltage. The internal converter circuit processes the conversion voltage to generate an analog signal. The second transmitting interface transmits the analog signal to the controller chip and receives a control command from the controller chip. The processing circuit generates an adjustment signal based on the control command and provides the first adjustment signal to the external converter circuit via the first transmitting interface. The external converter circuit adjusts the conversion voltage based on the adjustment signal.

Claims (53)

1 . A power transmission chip coupled between an external converter circuit and a controller chip and comprising:

a first transmitting interface coupled to the external converter circuit and configured to receive a conversion voltage;

an internal converter circuit configured to process the conversion voltage to generate an analog signal;

a second transmitting interface configured to transmit the analog signal to the controller chip and receive a control command from the controller chip;

a third transmitting interface coupled to an external electronic device;

a switch circuit configured to receive the conversion voltage and output the conversion voltage to the third transmitting interface based on a second adjustment signal; and

a processing circuit configured to generate a first adjustment signal based on the control command and provide the first adjustment signal to the external converter circuit via the first transmitting interface,

wherein the external converter circuit adjusts the conversion voltage based on the first adjustment signal, and the second adjustment signal is provided by the processing circuit.

2 . The power transmission chip as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the third transmitting interface is a universal serial bus (USB) type-C connector.

3 . The power transmission chip as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an amplitude of the analog signal is lower than the conversion voltage.

4 . The power transmission chip as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the third transmitting interface receives a power requirement provided by the external electronic device and transmits the power requirement to the second transmitting interface, and the second transmitting interface transmits the power requirement to the controller chip.

5 . The power transmission chip as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the operation voltages of the internal converter circuit and the processing circuit are higher than an amplitude of the analog signal.

6 . An adapter coupled to an external electronic device and comprising:

an external converter circuit configured to convert power to generate a conversion voltage;

a power transmission chip configured to process the conversion voltage to generate an analog signal; and

a controller chip configured to receive the analog signal and providing a control command,

wherein:

the power transmission chip controls the external converter circuit based on the control command,

the power transmission chip comprises:

a first transmitting interface coupled to the external converter circuit and configured to receive the conversion voltage;

an internal converter circuit configured to process the conversion voltage to generate the analog signal;

a second transmitting interface configured to transmit the analog signal to the controller chip and receive the control command; and

a processing circuit configured to generate a first adjustment signal based on the control command and provide the first adjustment signal to the external converter circuit via the first transmitting interface,

the external converter circuit adjusts the conversion voltage based on the first adjustment signal,

the power transmission chip further comprises:

a third transmitting interface coupled to the external electronic device; and

a switch circuit configured to receive the conversion voltage and output the conversion voltage to the third transmitting interface based on a second adjustment signal,

the second adjustment signal is provided by the processing circuit.

7 . The adapter as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the power transmission chip provides the conversion voltage to the external converter circuit.

8 . The adapter as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the third transmitting interface is an USB type-C connector.

9 . The adapter as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the third transmitting interface outputs the conversion voltage to the external electronic device to charge the external electronic device.

10 . The adapter as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the third transmitting interface receives a power requirement provided by the external electronic device and transmits the power requirement to the second transmitting interface, and the second transmitting interface transmits the power requirement to the controller chip.

11 . The adapter as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the controller chip is independent of the power transmission chip.

12 . The adapter as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the conversion voltage is higher than an amplitude of the analog signal.

13 . The adapter as claimed in claim 12 , wherein an operation voltage of the power transmission chip is higher than the amplitude of the analog signal.

14 . The adapter as claimed in claim 13 , wherein an operation voltage of the controller chip is lower than the operation voltage of the power transmission chip.

15 . The adapter as claimed in claim 6 , wherein:

the controller chip determines whether the analog signal matches a predetermined value,

in response to the analog signal not matching the predetermined value, the controller chip utilizes the control command to direct the power transmission chip to stop outputting the conversion voltage to the external electronic device.

16 . A control method applied to an adapter which comprises a converter circuit, a power transmission chip and a controller chip, and the control method comprising:

providing a conversion voltage generated by the converter circuit to a first transmitting interface of the power transmission chip;

directing an internal converter circuit of the power transmission chip to process the conversion voltage to generate an analog signal;

providing the analog signal to a second transmitting interface of the power transmission chip, wherein the second transmitting interface transmits the analog signal to the controller chip and receives a control command generated by the controller chip;

providing the control command to a processing circuit of the power transmission chip;

directing the processing circuit to generate a first adjustment signal based on the control command so that the converter circuit adjusts the conversion voltage based on the first adjustment signal; and

providing the conversion voltage to a switch circuit,

wherein:

the processing circuit generates a second adjustment signal,

the switch circuit outputs the conversion voltage to an external electronic device based on the second adjustment signal.

17 . The control method as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising:

determining whether the analog signal matches a predetermined value;

outputting the conversion voltage to the external electronic device in response to the analog signal matching the predetermined value; and

stopping the output of the conversion voltage to the external electronic device in response to the analog signal not matching the predetermined value.