LOW-VOLTAGE, HIGH-CURRENT CHARGING WITH OVER-VOLTAGE SENSING

1 . A power converter comprising:

a load detector configured to:

determine a change in a load value of an electronic device coupled to the power converter without receiving a message communicated from the electronic device indicating the change in the load value, and

determine if the change in the load value exceeds a threshold value;

a processor, in response to determining the change in the load value exceeds the threshold value, configured to signal the power converter to reduce a voltage; and

a power control block configured to reduce the voltage based on the signal.

2 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the load detector is configured to determine the change in the load value of the electronic device based on at least one of a current measurement at the power converter and a voltage measurement at the electronic device.

3 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein

the load detector is configured to determine the change in the load value of the electronic device based on a current measurement at the power converter and a voltage measurement at the electronic device, and

the load value is calculated using Ohm's Law.

4 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein

the load detector is configured to determine the change in the load value of the electronic device based on a current measurement at the power converter and a voltage measurement at the electronic device, and

the voltage measurement at the electronic device is a voltage drop across a battery of the electronic device sensed via a differential pair of a cable assembly coupling the power converter to the electronic device.

5 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to send a message to the electronic device, the message configured to cause the electronic device to switch a contact pair from a normal operational position to a battery cell position.

6 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein

the processor is configured to determine a lower voltage based on the change in the load value, and

instruct the power control block to reduce the voltage to the lower voltage.

7 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the threshold value is based on a change in a load voltage that causes an over-voltage protection (OVP) condition.

8 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the threshold value is based on an over-voltage condition that causes damage to the electronic device coupled to the power converter.

9 . The power converter of claim 1 , wherein

the power converter is coupled to the electronic device using a cable assembly including a cable having a single, braided VBUS conductor around a single, insulated, CC wire, and

the single, braided VBUS conductor is insulated from a braided ground shield using an inner insulator.

10 . A method comprising:

determining an electronic device is coupled to a power converter via a cable assembly;

communicating a desired contact configuration from the power converter to the electronic device;

transferring power from the power converter to the electronic device at a voltage and a current;

at the power converter, monitoring a change in load value of the electronic device using the desired contact configuration;

determining if the change in load value exceeds a threshold value; and

in response to determining the change in load value exceeds the threshold value, reducing the voltage at the power converter.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the change in the load value of the electronic device is based on at least one of:

a current measurement at the power converter,

a voltage measurement at the power converter, and

a voltage measurement at the electronic device.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein

the change in the load value of the electronic device is based on a current measurement at the power converter and a voltage measurement at the electronic device, and

the load value is calculated using Ohm's Law.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein

the change in the load value of the electronic device is based on a current measurement at the power converter and a voltage measurement at the electronic device,

the voltage measurement at the electronic device is a voltage drop across a battery of the electronic device sensed via a differential pair of the cable assembly coupling the power converter to the electronic device, and

the desired contact configuration indicates the differential pair.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein reducing the voltage at the power converter includes:

determining a lower voltage based on the change in the load value, and

reducing the voltage to the lower voltage.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the threshold value is based on a change in a bus voltage that causes an over-voltage protection (OVP) condition.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the threshold value is based on an over-voltage condition that causes damage to the electronic device.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the change in the load value is a percent change in the load value.

18 . An electronic device comprising:

a multiplexor configured to switch a contact pair associated with a connector between a normal operational position and a battery cell position; and

a processor configured to:

receive a message including a desired contact configuration from a power converter coupled to the electronic device via a cable assembly, and

instruct the multiplexor to switch between the normal operational position and the battery cell position based on the desired contact configuration.

19 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the battery cell position is configured to enable a voltage drop across a battery of the electronic device to be measured by the power converter via a differential pair of the cable assembly.

20 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the battery cell position is configured to electrically couple a differential pair of the cable assembly to a bus voltage terminal and a ground terminal of a battery of the electronic device.