# US 12,003,090 B2 · Current controlled architecture for a Vconn switch

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,003,090 B2
- Document ID: US12003090B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/325,349
- Filed: 2021-05-20
- Published: 2022-03-03
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-09-03
- Assignees: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
- Applicants: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
- Inventors: Rajesh Karri; Arun Khamesra
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003090B2

## CPC

- H02H 3/087: for DC applications
- G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C)
- G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)}
- 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 13/385: {for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices}
- G06F 13/4068: {Electrical coupling}
- G06F 13/4282: {on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247)}
- G06F 13/4295: {using an embedded synchronisation}
- H02H 1/0007: {concerning the detecting means (in general G01R or other subclasses of G01; reed switches H01H71/2445)}
- H03K 17/0822: {in field-effect transistor switches}
- G06F 2213/0042: Universal serial bus [USB]
- 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)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- 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)

## Abstract

A Universal Serial Bus controller including a Vconn switch having a current controlled architecture, and method for operating the same are provided. Generally, the Vconn switch includes first and second transistors coupled in series between a Vconn terminal and a communication channel (CC) terminal, a replica switch including a source coupled to the Vconn terminal, a replica current generator including a first input coupled to a drain of the replica switch and a second input coupled to a drain of the first transistor, and a resistance control module coupled to an output of the replica current generator and including an output coupled to a gate of the second transistor. The replica current generator is operable to match a current through the replica switch to that supplied through the first and second transistors to the CC terminal, and the resistance control module is operable to control resistance of the Vconn switch.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A Vconn switch comprising:
a first transistor and second transistor coupled in series between a Vconn terminal and a communication channel (CC) terminal, the first transistor including a source coupled to the Vconn terminal;
a replica switch including a source coupled to the Vconn terminal;
a replica current generator including a first input coupled to a drain of the first transistor and a second input coupled to a drain of the replica switch; and
a resistance control module coupled to an output of the replica current generator and including a buffer and an output coupled to a gate of the second transistor,
wherein the replica current generator is operable to match a replica current through the replica switch to that of a current supplied through the first and second transistors to the CC terminal and the resistance control module is operable to control resistance of the Vconn switch to control an in-rush current to the CC terminal,
wherein the replica current generator comprises a third transistor coupled between the second input and ground, and an operational amplifier including an inverting input coupled to the first input, a non-inverting input coupled to the second input, and an output coupled in parallel to the output of the of the replica current generator and to a gate of the third transistor, and wherein the first transistor, second transistor and replica switch are NMOS transistors.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The Vconn switch of claim 1 further comprising a charge pump, wherein a gate of the first transistor and a gate of the replica switch are coupled in parallel to an output of the charge pump.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The Vconn switch of claim 2 wherein the third transistor is a NMOS transistor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The Vconn switch of claim 3 wherein the operational amplifier is coupled to and powered by the output of the charge pump.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The Vconn switch of claim 3 wherein the resistance control module comprises a fourth transistor including a gate coupled to the output of the replica current generator, a source coupled through a first current supply to the output of the charge pump, and a drain coupled to ground, the source of the fourth transistor further coupled through the buffer to the gate of the second transistor, and wherein the fourth transistor is a NMOS transistor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The Vconn switch of claim 5 wherein the buffer is coupled to and powered by the charge pump.

### Claim 7

A Vconn switch comprising:
a first transistor and second transistor coupled in series between a Vconn terminal and a communication channel (CC) terminal, the first transistor including a source coupled to the Vconn terminal;
a replica switch including a source coupled to the Vconn terminal;
a replica current generator including a first input coupled to a drain of the first transistor and a second input coupled to a drain of the replica switch;
a resistance control module coupled to an output of the replica current generator and including a buffer and an output coupled to a gate of the second transistor; and
a programmable trigger module coupled to the output of the replica current generator,
wherein the replica current generator is operable to match a replica current through the replica switch to that of a current supplied through the first and second transistors to the CC terminal and the resistance control module is operable to control resistance of the Vconn switch to control an in-rush current to the CC terminal, the programmable trigger module is operable to compare replica current with one or more current set-points and turn off the Vconn switch on detection of an over current event, and the first transistor, second transistor and replica switch are NMOS transistors.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The Vconn switch of claim 7 wherein the programmable trigger module comprises a transistor including a gate coupled to the output of the replica current generator, a source coupled to a second current supply, and a drain coupled to ground, the source of the transistor further coupled to an output of the programmable trigger module to output Over Current Protection (OCP) and/or short circuit protection (SCP) signals.

### Claim 9

A Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller comprising:
a USB power delivery (USB-PD) subsystem comprising a Vconn switch,
wherein the Vconn switch comprises:
a first transistor and second transistor coupled in series between a Vconn terminal and a communication channel (CC) terminal, the first transistor including a source coupled to the Vconn terminal;
a replica switch including a source coupled to the Vconn terminal;
a replica current generator including a first input coupled to a drain of the first transistor and a second input coupled to a drain of the replica switch, the replica current generator operable to match a replica current through the replica switch to that of a current supplied through the first and second transistors to the CC terminal; and
a resistance control module coupled to an output of the replica current generator and including a buffer and an output coupled to a gate of the second transistor, the resistance control module operable to control resistance of the Vconn switch to control an in-rush current to the CC terminal,
wherein the replica current generator comprises a third transistor coupled between the second input and ground, and an operational amplifier including an inverting input coupled to the first input, a non-inverting input coupled to the second input, and an output coupled in parallel to the output of the of the replica current generator and to a gate of the third transistor, and wherein the first transistor, second transistor and replica switch are NMOS transistors.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The USB controller of claim 9 further comprising a charge pump, wherein a gate of the first transistor and a gate of the replica switch are coupled in parallel to an output of the charge pump.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The USB controller of claim 10 wherein the third transistor is a NMOS transistor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The USB controller of claim 11 wherein the resistance control module comprises a fourth transistor including a gate coupled to the output of the replica current generator, a source coupled through a first current supply to the output of the charge pump, and a drain coupled to ground, the source of the fourth transistor further coupled through the buffer to the gate of the second transistor, and wherein the fourth transistor is a NMOS transistor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The USB controller of claim 11 further comprising a programmable trigger module coupled to the output of the replica current generator, the programmable trigger module operable to compare replica current with one or more current set-points and turn off the Vconn switch on detection of an over current event.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The USB controller of claim 13 wherein the programmable trigger module comprises a fifth transistor including a gate coupled to the output of the replica current generator, a source coupled to a second current supply, and a drain coupled to ground, the source of the fifth transistor further coupled to an output of the programmable trigger module to output Over Current Protection (OCP) and/or short circuit protection (SCP) signals.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The USB controller of claim 9 further including a power-rail through which the first transistor and the second transistor are coupled to the CC terminal, and wherein the power-rail is coupled to a VDDD supply to power the USB controller.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The USB controller of claim 9 wherein the USB controller is a Universal Serial Bus Type-C(USB-C) controller.

### Claim 17

A method of operating a Vconn switch comprising:
receiving an input voltage on a Vconn terminal coupled to a communication channel (CC) terminal through a first transistor connected in series with a second transistor;
coupling the input voltage to a source of a replica switch coupled to the Vconn terminal;
matching a current supplied through the first and second transistors to the CC terminal to a replica current through the replica switch generated by a replica current generator including a first input coupled to a drain of the first transistor, and a second input coupled to a drain of the replica switch; and
controlling a gate of the second transistor using a resistance control module coupled to an output of the replica current generator to control resistance of the Vconn switch, the resistance control module including a buffer and an output through which it is coupled to the gate of the second transistor,
wherein the replica current generator comprises a third transistor coupled between the second input and ground, and an operational amplifier including an inverting input coupled to the first input, a non-inverting input coupled to the second input, and an output coupled in parallel to the output of the of the replica current generator and to a gate of the third transistor, and wherein matching a current supplied through the first and second transistors to the CC terminal to a replica current through the replica switch comprises coupling a gate of the first transistor and a gate of the replica switch to an output of a charge pump, and wherein the first transistor, second transistor, third transistor and replica switch are NMOS transistors.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 wherein the resistance control module comprises a fourth transistor including a gate coupled to the output of the replica current generator, a source coupled through a first current supply to the output of the charge pump, and a drain coupled to ground, the source of the fourth transistor further coupled through the buffer to the gate of the second transistor, and wherein controlling resistance of the Vconn switch comprises controlling the gate of the second transistor to control an in-rush current through the second transistor, and wherein the fourth transistor is a NMOS transistor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 wherein the Vconn switch further comprises a programmable trigger module coupled to the output of the replica current generator, and further comprising comparing the replica current with one or more current set-points using the programmable trigger module and turning off the Vconn switch on detection of an over current event.