US 10,439,390 B1Granted

Multi-port power supply apparatus and operation method thereof

AssigneeVia Labs, Inc.

InventorsNai-Chuan Hung, Hung-Chih Chiu

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Abstract

A multi-port power supply apparatus and its operation method are provided. The multi-port power supply apparatus includes a voltage source circuit, a first voltage converter, a second voltage converter and a first common control circuit. The voltage source circuit provides a source voltage. The first voltage converter converts the source voltage into a first output voltage and outputs the first output voltage to a first connecting port of the multi-port power supply apparatus. The second voltage converter converts the source voltage into a second output voltage and outputs the second output voltage to a second connecting port of the multi-port power supply apparatus. The first common control circuit adjusts the source voltage according to a first voltage demand of the first connecting port and a second voltage demand of the second connecting port. Thus, a voltage conversion efficiency of the multi-port power supply apparatus is enhanced.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A multi-port power supply apparatus, comprising:

a voltage source circuit, providing a source voltage;
a first voltage converter, coupled to the voltage source circuit to receive the source voltage, wherein the first voltage converter converts the source voltage into a first output voltage and outputs the first output voltage to a first connecting port of the multi-port power supply apparatus;
a second voltage converter, coupled to the voltage source circuit to receive the source voltage, wherein the second voltage converter converts the source voltage into a second output voltage and outputs the second output voltage to a second connecting port of the multi-port power supply apparatus;
and
a first common control circuit, coupled to the first connecting port to acquire a first voltage demand of the first connecting port, and coupled to the second connecting port to acquire a second voltage demand of the second connecting port, wherein the first common control circuit correspondingly controls the voltage source circuit to dynamically adjust the source voltage according to the first voltage demand and the second voltage demand, so as to enhance a voltage conversion efficiency of the multi-port power supply apparatus,
wherein the first common control circuit comprises:
an adjustment circuit, coupled to a feedback circuit of the voltage source circuit, wherein the adjustment circuit is configured to change feedback information of the feedback circuit, and the voltage source circuit correspondingly adjusts the source voltage according to the feedback information;
and
a microcontroller, coupled to the adjustment circuit, wherein the microcontroller controls the adjustment circuit according to the first voltage demand and the second voltage demand so as to adjust the source voltage,
wherein the feedback circuit of the voltage source circuit comprises:
a first resistor, wherein a first terminal of the first resistor is coupled to an output terminal of the voltage source circuit to receive the source voltage, and a second terminal of the first resistor is coupled to a feedback terminal of the voltage source circuit to provide the feedback information;
and
a second resistor, wherein a first terminal of the second resistor is coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor, and a second terminal of the second resistor is coupled to a reference voltage,
wherein the adjustment circuit comprises a variable resistor, a first terminal of the variable resistor is coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor, a second terminal of the variable resistor is coupled to the reference voltage, and the microcontroller changes the feedback information by changing a resistance of the variable resistor.

11 more elements

An operation method of a multi-port power supply apparatus, comprising:

providing a source voltage by a voltage source circuit;
converting the source voltage into a first output voltage and outputting the first output voltage to a first connecting port of the multi-port power supply apparatus by a first voltage converter;
converting the source voltage into a second output voltage and outputting the second output voltage to a second connecting port of the multi-port power supply apparatus by a second voltage converter;
acquiring a first voltage demand of the first connecting port and a second voltage demand of the second connecting port by a first common control circuit;
and
correspondingly controlling the voltage source circuit to dynamically adjust the source voltage by the first common control circuit according to the first voltage demand and the second voltage demand, so as to enhance a voltage conversion efficiency of the multi-port power supply apparatus,
wherein the first common control circuit comprises a variable resistor and a microcontroller, and the step of dynamically adjusting the source voltage comprises:
changing a resistance of the variable resistor according to the first voltage demand and the second voltage demand by the microcontroller to change a feedback information provided to the voltage source circuit, and
correspondingly adjusts the source voltage according to the feedback information by the voltage source circuit.

6 more elements

A multi-port power supply apparatus, comprising:

a voltage source circuit, providing a source voltage;
a first voltage converter, coupled to the voltage source circuit to receive the source voltage, wherein the first voltage converter converts the source voltage into a first output voltage and outputs the first output voltage to a first connecting port of the multi-port power supply apparatus;
a second voltage converter, coupled to the voltage source circuit to receive the source voltage, wherein the second voltage converter converts the source voltage into a second output voltage and outputs the second output voltage to a second connecting port of the multi-port power supply apparatus;
and
a first common control circuit, coupled to the first connecting port to acquire a first voltage demand of the first connecting port, and coupled to the second connecting port to acquire a second voltage demand of the second connecting port, wherein the first common control circuit correspondingly controls the voltage source circuit to dynamically adjust the source voltage according to the first voltage demand and the second voltage demand, so as to enhance a voltage conversion efficiency of the multi-port power supply apparatus,
wherein the first common control circuit comprises:
an adjustment circuit, coupled to a feedback circuit of the voltage source circuit, wherein the adjustment circuit is configured to change feedback information of the feedback circuit, and the voltage source circuit correspondingly adjusts the source voltage according to the feedback information;
and
a microcontroller, coupled to the adjustment circuit, wherein the microcontroller controls the adjustment circuit according to the first voltage demand and the second voltage demand so as to adjust the source voltage,
wherein the feedback circuit of the voltage source circuit comprises:
a first resistor, wherein a first terminal of the first resistor is coupled to an output terminal of the voltage source circuit to receive the source voltage;
and
an optical coupler, having a light emitting part and a light receiving part, wherein a first terminal of the light emitting part is coupled to a second terminal of the first resistor, a first terminal of the light receiving part is coupled to a feedback terminal of the voltage source circuit to provide the feedback information, and a second terminal of the light receiving part is coupled to a reference voltage,
wherein the adjustment circuit comprises a current source, a first terminal of the current source is coupled to a second terminal of the light emitting part, a second terminal of the current source is coupled to the reference voltage, a control terminal of the current source is coupled to the microcontroller, and the microcontroller changes the feedback information by changing a current value of the current source.

11 more elements

An operation method of a multi-port power supply apparatus, comprising:

providing a source voltage by a voltage source circuit;
converting the source voltage into a first output voltage and outputting the first output voltage to a first connecting port of the multi-port power supply apparatus by a first voltage converter;
converting the source voltage into a second output voltage and outputting the second output voltage to a second connecting port of the multi-port power supply apparatus by a second voltage converter;
acquiring a first voltage demand of the first connecting port and a second voltage demand of the second connecting port by a first common control circuit;
and
correspondingly controlling the voltage source circuit to dynamically adjust the source voltage by the first common control circuit according to the first voltage demand and the second voltage demand, so as to enhance a voltage conversion efficiency of the multi-port power supply apparatus,
wherein the first common control circuit comprises a current source and a microcontroller, and the step of dynamically adjusting the source voltage comprises:
changing a current value of the current source according to the first voltage demand and the second voltage demand by the microcontroller to change a feedback information provided to the voltage source circuit, and
correspondingly adjusts the source voltage according to the feedback information by the voltage source circuit.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/103,948Filed 15 Aug 2018
Priority: TW 107125966 A27 Jul 2018
Granted: 8 Oct 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H02J 3/46
Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised…
G06F 1/263
Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof: arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC
H02J 1/102
Parallel operation of DC sources: being switching converters
H02J 1/14
Circuit arrangements for DC mains or DC distribution networks: balancing load and power generation in DC networks