USB docking station with output power adjustment and method thereof

A USB docking station adapted to connect to a first master device and a plurality of power-receiving devices, the first master device having a power supply option, and the USB docking station comprising:

• a first connector adapted to connect to the first master device and having a first configuration channel and a first power supply channel;
• a plurality of ports adapted to connect to the power-receiving devices, respectively;
• a plurality of output-monitoring circuits corresponding to the ports, wherein each of the output-monitoring circuits is configured to selectively electrically connect the first power supply channel to the corresponding port, each of the output-monitoring circuits has an upper limit power value, each of the output-monitoring circuits obtains a current output power of the corresponding port, and when the current output power is not less than the upper limit power value of the output-monitoring circuit, the output-monitoring circuit disconnects the electrical connection between the corresponding port and the first power supply channel;
• and
• a control circuit having a plurality of rated power values corresponding to the ports, the control circuit obtaining the power supply option via the first configuration channel and setting the upper limit power values according to the rated power values, the current output powers, and the power supply option;
• wherein the first master device comprises a plurality of the power supply options, wherein the control circuit sets the upper limit power values according to the rated power values, the current output powers, and the power supply options, and outputs a selected option through the first configuration channel;
• wherein the USB docking station further comprises a first supervisory circuit configured to selectively electrically connect the first power supply channel to the output-monitoring circuits and to obtain a first current power of the first power supply channel, wherein when the first current power is greater than the selected option, the control circuit controls the first supervisory circuit to disconnect the electrical connection between the first power supply channel and the output-monitoring circuits.

A power-governing method adapted for a USB docking station, the docking station having a first connector and a plurality of ports, the first connector being adapted to connect to a first master device, the ports being adapted to connect to a plurality of power-receiving devices, respectively, the USB docking station having a plurality of rated power values corresponding to the ports, and the method comprising:

• obtaining a power supply option of the first master device;
• setting, according to the power supply option and the rated power values, an upper limit power value corresponding to each of the ports;
• when one of the power-receiving devices is connected to one of the ports, controlling the first master device to supply power to the connected power-receiving device, and limiting the supplied power not to be greater than the upper limit power value corresponding to the connected port;
• obtaining a first current power of the first connector;
• and
• when the first current power is greater than a selected option, disconnecting the electrical connection between the first power supply channel and the ports.