IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,766,674
Granted Patent B2
US 9,766,674 · App. 14/318,198 · Granted Sep 19, 2017

USB power delivery controller sharing

Inventors: Robert Dunstan (Forest Grove, OR); Chee Lim Nge (Hillsboro, OR)
Assignee: Intel Corporation
G06F1/266G06F13/385Y02B60/1228Y02B60/1235
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,766,674
App. No.
14/318,198
Granted
Sep 19, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for sharing a power delivery controller is described herein. The system includes a plurality of ports and a power delivery controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of ports. The power delivery controller is to send a first message to a particular port of the plurality of ports and remain connected to the particular port and enable power delivery to the particular port in response to a particular return message from the port.

Claims (35)

1. A system for sharing a power delivery controller, comprising:

a plurality of ports; and

a power delivery controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of ports, and the power delivery controller is to:

rotate between the plurality of ports to determine a particular port of the plurality of ports that has access to the power delivery controller;

negotiate with the plurality of ports by advertising capabilities of a computing device that comprises the power delivery controller and the plurality of ports at each port of the plurality of ports;

send a first message to the particular port of the plurality of ports; and

remain connected to the particular port and enable power delivery to the particular port in response to a particular return message from the port.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ports is connected to a cable.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ports is connected to a plurality of devices.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the return message is a GoodCRC message.

5. The system of claim 1 ; wherein the return message is a Request message.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of dead battery (DB) modules corresponding to each of the plurality of ports, wherein each DB module is to enable charging of the system.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the DB modules are to emulate a minimal portion of a USB PD controller to support dead battery operation.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein a second power delivery controller is communicatively coupled to the plurality of ports, and the power delivery controller or the second power delivery controller are connected to the particular port.

9. A method for sharing a power delivery controller, comprising:

polling a plurality of Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports by rotating between the plurality of ports to determine a particular port of the plurality of ports that has access to the power delivery controller;

negotiating with the plurality of ports by advertising capabilities of a computing device that comprises the power delivery controller and the plurality of ports at each port of the plurality of ports;

sending a first message to each port of the plurality of USB ports; and

coupling to a particular port of the plurality of ports in response to a return message from the particular port, wherein power is delivered to the particular port.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of ports is a group of ports connected to a plurality of cables.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of ports is a group of ports connected to a device plurality of devices.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the return message is a GoodCRC message.

13. The method of claim 9 ; wherein the return message is a Request message.

14. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising code to direct a processor to:

rotate between a plurality of ports to determine a particular port of the plurality of ports that has access to the power delivery controller;

negotiate with the plurality of ports by advertising capabilities of a computing device that comprises a power delivery controller and the plurality of ports at each port of the plurality of ports;

send a first message to the particular port of the plurality of ports;

couple to the particular port of the plurality of ports in response to a return message from the port; and

deliver power to the particular port.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the processor is a power delivery controller.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the processor is a power delivery controller and the power delivery controller is to send a message to the plurality of ports, and couple with a port in response to a device requesting power at the port.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of ports is a group of ports connected to a plurality of cables.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of ports is a group of ports connected to a plurality of devices.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the return message is a GoodCRC message.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 ; wherein the return message is a Request message.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2016
From: DUNSTAN, ROBERT A.; NGE, CHEE LIM
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037426/0598 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150378409A1 · Dec 31, 2015