IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,770,015
Granted Patent B2
US 11,770,015 · App. 17/110,312 · Granted Sep 26, 2023

Power management device and method

Inventors: Terrance Shiyang Shih (Milpitas, CA); Chin-Sung Hsu (New Taipei, TW); Nai-Chuan Hung (New Taipei, TW)
Assignee: VIA LABS, INC.
H02J7/0048G06F1/263G06F1/3253G06F13/4282H02J2207/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,770,015
App. No.
17/110,312
Granted
Sep 26, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Power management device and method for a consumer product are provided. The power management device includes a memory, a configuration channel interface circuit and a control circuit. When a power supply device is electrically connected to a connector of the consumer product, the control circuit performs a power delivery protocol conforming to a USB specification on the power supply device through the configuration channel interface circuit and a configuration channel pin of the connector, so as to determine a power mode in which the power supply device supplies power to the consumer product. After the power delivery protocol is performed successfully, based on at least one protocol profile stored in the memory, the control circuit performs a vendor-defined messaging protocol on the power supply device through the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pin, so as to determine whether to change the power mode.

Claims (43)

1. A power management device adapted to be disposed in a consumer product, the power management device comprising:

a memory, adapted to store at least one protocol profile;

a configuration channel interface circuit, adapted to be coupled to a configuration channel pin of a connector of the consumer product;

a control circuit, coupled to the configuration channel interface circuit and the memory, and

a data channel interface circuit, adapted to be coupled to a differential signal pin pair of the connector, wherein the control circuit is further coupled to the data channel interface circuit, wherein

when a power supply device is electrically connected to the connector of the consumer product, the control circuit performs a power delivery protocol conforming to a USB specification on the power supply device through the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pin, so as to determine a power mode in which the power supply device supplies power to the consumer product;

after the power delivery protocol is performed successfully, based on the at least one protocol profile stored in the memory, the control circuit performs a vendor-defined messaging protocol on the power supply device through the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pin, so as to determine whether to change the power mode between the power supply device and the consumer product;

when the power supply device is electrically connected to the connector of the consumer product, if the power delivery protocol is performed unsuccessfully or the configuration channel pin is not electrically connected to the power supply device, the control circuit detects an electrical state of the differential signal pin pair through the data channel interface circuit, and turns on a power switch of the consumer product according to the electrical state, so as to transmit a power provided by the power supply device to a main power bus of the consumer product through the connector and the power switch; and

after the power switch is turned on, the control circuit performs a first power source protocol in a bidirectional manner on the power supply device through the data channel interface circuit and the differential signal pin pair, so as to determine whether to change the power mode in which the power supply device supplies power to the consumer product.

2. The power management device of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a USB connector.

3. The power management device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply device comprises a USB charger or a USB adaptor.

4. The power management device of claim 1 , wherein the vendor-defined messaging protocol comprises:

based on the at least one protocol profile stored in the memory, sending an inquiry signal corresponding to the power supply device to the power supply device through the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pin by the control circuit; and

after the power supply device returns an acknowledge signal corresponding to the inquiry signal to the control circuit, adjusting the power mode between the power supply device and the consumer product to a high power mode, wherein a power of the high power mode exceeds a power specified by the power delivery protocol.

5. The power management device of claim 1 , wherein

when the at least one protocol profile corresponding to the power supply device does not exist in the memory, the power mode between the power supply device and the consumer product is maintained in a standard specification power mode conforming to the power delivery protocol.

6. The power management device of claim 1 , wherein the first power source protocol comprises:

receiving a protocol signal sent by the power supply device through the data channel interface circuit and the differential signal pin pair by the control circuit;

identifying the protocol signal by the control circuit based on the at least one protocol profile stored in the memory;

when the control circuit successfully identifies the protocol signal sent by the power supply device, sending an acknowledge signal corresponding to the protocol signal to the power supply device through the data channel interface circuit and the differential signal pin pair by the control circuit so that the power supply device adjusts the power mode to a high power mode, wherein a power of the high power mode exceeds a power specified by a USB2.0 specification; and

when the control circuit is unable to identify the protocol signal sent by the power supply device or the power supply device does not send the protocol signal, maintaining the power mode between the power supply device and the consumer product in a standard specification power mode conforming to the USB2.0 protocol.

7. The power management device of claim 1 , wherein the differential signal pin pair comprise a D+ pin and a D− pin of a USB connector.

8. The power management device of claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores traceability data to be read through the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pin by an electronic device.

9. The power management device of claim 8 , wherein the traceability data comprises at least one of a product serial number, manufacturing date information and manufacturer Information.

10. A power management method adapted to a consumer product, the power management method comprising:

storing at least one protocol profile by a memory of a power management device of the consumer product;

when a power supply device is electrically connected to a connector of the consumer product, performing a power delivery protocol conforming to a USB specification on the power supply device through a configuration channel pin of the connector by the power management device, so as to determine a power mode in which the power supply device supplies power to the consumer product;

after the power delivery protocol is performed successfully, based on the at least one protocol profile stored in the memory, performing a vendor-defined messaging protocol on the power supply device through the configuration channel pin by the power management device, so as to determine whether to change the power mode between the power supply device and the consumer product;

when the power supply device is electrically connected to the connector of the consumer product, if the power delivery protocol is performed unsuccessfully or the configuration channel pin is not electrically connected to the power supply device, detecting an electrical state of a differential signal pin pair of the connector by the power management device, and turning on a power switch of the consumer product according to the electrical state, so as to transmit a power provided by the power supply device to a main power bus of the consumer product through the connector and the power switch; and

after the power switch is turned on, performing a first power source protocol in a bidirectional manner on the power supply device through the differential signal pin pair by the power management device, so as to determine whether to change the power mode in which the power supply device supplies power to the consumer product.

11. The power management method of claim 10 , wherein the vendor-defined messaging protocol comprises:

based on the at least one protocol profile stored in the memory, sending an inquiry signal corresponding to the power supply device to the power supply device through the configuration channel pin by the power management device; and

after the power supply device returns an acknowledge signal corresponding to the inquiry signal to the power management device, adjusting the power mode between the power supply device and the consumer product to a high power mode, wherein a power of the high power mode exceeds a power specified by the power delivery protocol.

12. The power management method of claim 10 , further comprising:

when the at least one protocol profile corresponding to the power supply device does not exist in the memory, maintaining the power mode between the power supply device and the consumer product in a standard specification power mode conforming to the power delivery protocol.

13. The power management method of claim 10 , wherein the first power source protocol comprises:

receiving a protocol signal sent by the power supply device through the differential signal pin pair by the power management device;

identifying the protocol signal by the power management device based on the at least one protocol profile stored in the memory;

when the power management device successfully identifies the protocol signal sent by the power supply device, sending an acknowledge signal corresponding to the protocol signal through the differential signal pin pair by the power management device so that the power supply device adjusts the power mode to a high power mode, wherein a power of the high power mode exceeds a power specified by a USB2.0 specification; and

when the power management device is unable to identify the protocol signal sent by the power supply device or the power supply device does not send the protocol signal, maintaining the power mode between the power supply device and the consumer product in a standard specification power mode conforming to the USB2.0 protocol.

14. The power management method of claim 10 , wherein the differential signal pin pair comprise a D+ pin and a D− pin of a USB connector.

15. The power management method of claim 10 , wherein the memory further stores traceability data to be read through the configuration channel pin by an electronic device.

16. The power management method of claim 15 , wherein the traceability data comprises at least one of a product serial number, manufacturing date information and manufacturer Information.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2020
From: SHIH, TERRANCE SHIYANG; HSU, CHIN-SUNG; HUNG, NAI-CHUAN
To: VIA LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054540/0140 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW 109137149 · Oct 26, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63000507 · Mar 27, 2020
Related Publication 20210305828A1 · Sep 30, 2021