# US 10,320,180 B1 · Current control and protection for universal serial bus type-C (USB-C) connector systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,320,180 B1 - Document ID: US10320180B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/145,779 - Filed: 2018-09-28 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-24 - Assignees: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation - Applicants: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation - Inventors: Ramakrishna Venigalla; Arun Khamesra; Hemant P. Vispute - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320180B1 ## CPC - H02J 7/62: against overcurrent - G06F 1/266: {Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips} - G06F 1/30: Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations (for resetting only G06F1/24) - G06F 13/385: {for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices} - G06F 13/4068: {Electrical coupling} - H01R 13/6666: {with built-in overvoltage protection} - H01R 13/6683: {with built-in sensor} - H01R 13/703: operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, {e.g. dual-continuity coupling part}(H01R13/71 takes precedence) - H02H 3/087: for DC applications - H02H 3/18: responsive to reversal of direct current - H02H 9/02: responsive to excess current {(current limitation for voltage regulators G05F1/573; disconnection after limiting H02H3/025)} - H02H 11/002: {in case of inverted polarity or connection; with switching for obtaining correct connection} - H02J 7/64: against overvoltage - H03K 17/08122: {in field-effect transistor switches} - G06F 2213/0042: Universal serial bus [USB] - H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries - H02J 7/65: against overtemperature - H03K 2217/0009: AC switches, i.e. delivering AC power to a load - H03K 2217/0054: Gating switches, e.g. pass gates - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract An electronic device includes a power switch configured to receive a voltage on a first terminal. The first terminal is coupled to a voltage regulator. The power switch is also configured to provide the voltage to a second terminal. The second terminal is coupled to a VBUS terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) connector. The electronic device also includes a protection circuit comprising a comparison component coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal. The comparison component is configured to detect a first voltage at the first terminal detect a second voltage at the second terminal. The protection circuit is configured to determine whether the second voltage is within a threshold voltage of the first voltage and adjust operation of the power switch in response to determining that the second voltage is within the threshold voltage of the first voltage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device, comprising: a power switch configured to: receive a voltage on a first terminal, wherein the first terminal is coupled to a voltage regulator; provide the voltage to a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is coupled to a VBUS terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) connector; and a protection circuit comprising a comparison component coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein: the comparison component is configured to: detect a first voltage at the first terminal; and detect a second voltage at the second terminal; and the protection circuit is configured to: determine whether the second voltage is within a threshold voltage of the first voltage; and adjust operation of the power switch in response to determining that the second voltage is within the threshold voltage of the first voltage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein to adjust the operation of the power switch the protection circuit is configured to: deactivate the power switch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein to determine whether the second voltage is within the threshold voltage of the first voltage the protection circuit is configured to: determine whether the second voltage is within a range of threshold voltages. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein to adjust the operation of the power switch the protection circuit is configured to: adjust a duty cycle of the power switch based on the range of threshold voltages. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein to adjust the operation of the power switch the protection circuit is configured to: partially activate the power switch based on the range of threshold voltages. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: the protection circuit further comprises a duty cycle component coupled to the comparison component; and the duty cycle component is configured to adjust a duty cycle of the power switch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: the protection circuit further comprises a current source coupled to a first gate of the power switch; and the current source is configured to partially activate the power switch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the comparison component comprises a programmable comparison component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the protection circuit is further configured to: refrain from adjusting the operation of the power switch in response to determining that the second voltage is within the threshold voltage of the first voltage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the protection circuit is configured to detect a reverse current condition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a current control circuit coupled to the first terminal, wherein the current control circuit is configured to: determine whether a current flowing through the power switch is greater than a threshold current; and reduce the current flowing through the power switch in response to determining that the current flowing through the power switch is within the threshold current. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein: the current control circuit further comprise a current source coupled to a first gate of the power switch; and the current source is configured to partially activate the power switch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the current control circuit comprises a current sense amplifier coupled to the first terminal and a reference current source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electronic device of claim 13, wherein: the current sense amplifier comprises a programmable amplifier; and the reference current source comprises a programmable current source. ### Claim 15 A system, comprising: a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) connector; and a power switch configured to: receive a voltage on a first terminal, wherein the first terminal is coupled to a voltage regulator; provide the voltage to a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is coupled to a VBUS terminal of the Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) connector; and a protection circuit comprising a comparison component coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein: the comparison component is configured to: detect a first voltage at the first terminal; and detect a second voltage at the second terminal; and the protection circuit is configured to: determine whether the second voltage is within a threshold voltage of the first voltage; and adjust operation of the power switch in response to determining that the second voltage is within the threshold voltage of the first voltage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising: a current control circuit coupled to the first terminal, wherein the current control circuit is configured to: determine whether a current flowing through the power switch is greater than a threshold current; and reduce the current flowing through the power switch in response to determining that the current flowing through the power switch is within the threshold current. ### Claim 17 A method, comprising: receiving, by a power switch, a voltage on a first terminal, wherein the first terminal is coupled to a voltage regulator; providing, by the power switch, the voltage to a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is coupled to a VBUS terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) connector; detecting a first voltage at the first terminal; detecting a second voltage at the second terminal; determining whether the second voltage is within a threshold voltage of the first voltage; and adjusting operation of the power switch in response to determining that the second voltage is within the threshold voltage of the first voltage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the operation of the power switch comprises: deactivating the power switch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the operation of the power switch comprises: adjusting a duty cycle of the power switch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the operation of the power switch comprises: partially activating the power switch based.