Dynamic learning of voltage source capabilities
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorDeric Wayne Waters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system may include a power supply configurable to generate any of a plurality of output voltages on a power supply output node. The system also may include a voltage auto-detection power distribution (PD) controller coupled to the power supply. The voltage auto-detection PD controller is configured to monitor an input signal for detection of presence of a device coupled to the system via a cable and assert combinations of a plurality of control signals. For each combination of control signals, the voltage auto-detection PD controller measures a value of an output voltage from the power supply, stores the measured value, and generates a plurality of packets for transmission to the device. Each packet contains a parameter indicative of a measured output voltage.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a voltage auto-detection power distribution (PD) controller circuitry configured to be coupled to a power supply configurable to generate any of a plurality of output voltages on a power supply output node, the voltage auto-detection PD controller circuitry is configured to:
- detect a device connection via a cable;
- assert combinations of a plurality of control signals;
- for each combination of the control signals, measure a value of an output voltage from the power supply and store a value indicative of the measured value;
- and
- generate a plurality of packets for transmission to the device, the packets containing the values indicative of the measured output voltages.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a power switch configured to be coupled between a power supply output node and a voltage bus and configured to couple an output voltage from the power supply output node to the voltage bus;
- a voltage auto-detection power distribution (PD) controller circuitry configured to be coupled to a power supply and, via an enable signal, to the power switch, wherein the voltage auto-detection PD controller circuitry is configured to control the power switch to selectively be in an open state or a closed state;
- and
- a configurable resistor divider network coupled to the voltage auto-detection PD controller circuitry;
- wherein the voltage auto-detection PD controller circuitry is configured to initiate a power supply output voltage learning mode upon detection of a sink device coupled to the system via a cable, wherein during the power supply output voltage learning mode, the voltage auto-detection PD controller circuitry is configured to:
- use the enable signal to configure the power switch to an off state;
- assert combinations of a plurality of control signals to the configurable resistor divider network;
- for each combination of control signals, measure a value of an output voltage from the power supply;
- and
- generate a plurality of packets for transmission to the sink device, each packet containing a parameter indicative of a measured output voltage.
A method, comprising:
- detecting attachment of a first device to a second device;
- iteratively configuring a power supply of the second device to produce a plurality of output voltages and, for each iteration, measuring each output voltage and storing a value indicative of each measured output voltage;
- and
- transmitting communication packets to the first device, the communication packets including the values indicative of the measured output voltages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.