Power supply architecture for USB-C controllers

A Universal Serial Bus (USB) device comprising:

• a USB Type-C connector comprising a VBUS line and a VCONN line;
• and
• an integrated circuit (IC) controller comprising:
• a VDDD terminal;
• a VCONN terminal coupled to the VCONN line of the USB Type-C connector;
• a VBUS terminal coupled to the VBUS line of the USB Type-C connector;
• and
• a power rail coupled to internal circuits of the IC controller;
• wherein the VDDD terminal, the VCONN terminal, and the VBUS terminal are coupled to the power rail, and wherein:
• a VCONN switch is coupled between the VCONN terminal and the power rail;
• and
• a VBUS regulator is coupled between the VBUS terminal and the power rail;
• wherein the power rail is configured to provide operating power to the internal circuits of the IC controller from one of the VCONN terminal and the VBUS terminal.

A method of operating an integrated circuit (IC) controller in a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C device, the method comprising:

• receiving input voltage on one of a VCONN terminal and a VBUS terminal of the IC controller;
• wherein the IC controller comprises the VCONN terminal, the VBUS terminal, a VDDD terminal, and a power rail coupled to internal circuits of the IC controller, wherein the VDDD terminal, the VCONN terminal, and the VBUS terminal are coupled to the power rail, and wherein:
• a VCONN switch is coupled between the VCONN terminal and the power rail;
• and
• a VBUS regulator is coupled between the VBUS terminal and the power rail;
• and
• providing, via the power rail, operating power to the internal circuits of the IC controller from the one of the VCONN terminal and the VBUS terminal.