# US 2019/0319409 A1 · Reverse overcurrent protection for universal serial bus type-c (usb-c) connector systems

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- Number: US 2019/0319409 A1
- Document ID: US20190319409A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/017,008
- Filed: 2018-06-25
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-12
- Assignees: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
- Applicants: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
- Inventors: Hemant P. Vispute; Partha Mondal
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190319409A1

## CPC

- H01R 13/6666: {with built-in overvoltage protection}
- G06F 13/385: {for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices}
- G06F 13/4022: {using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network (G06F13/4009 takes precedence)}
- G06F 13/4282: {on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247)}
- H03K 19/00315: {in field-effect transistor circuits}
- H03K 19/018507: {Interface arrangements}
- H03K 19/018557: {Coupling arrangements; Impedance matching circuits}
- H10D 89/811: {using FETs as protective elements}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- 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)
- H10D: INORGANIC ELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

## Abstract

An electronic device includes a first electronic circuitry portion configured to connect a VCONN supply terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller to a first configuration channel (CC) terminal of a plurality of CC terminals of the USB-C controller. The first CC terminal of the USB-C controller is to be directly connected to a first CC terminal of a plurality of CC terminals of a USB-C receptacle. The electronic device further includes a second electronic circuitry portion electrically coupled to the first electronic circuitry portion and configured to detect a voltage across the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller and the VCONN supply terminal. The second electronic circuitry portion is to decouple the VCONN supply terminal from the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller when the voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device, comprising:
a first electronic circuitry portion configured to connect a VCONN supply terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller to a first configuration channel (CC) terminal of a plurality of CC terminals of the USB-C controller, the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller to be directly connected to a first CC terminal of a plurality of CC terminals of a USB-C receptacle; and
a second electronic circuitry portion electrically coupled to the first electronic circuitry portion and configured to:
detect a voltage across the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller and the VCONN supply terminal; and
decouple the VCONN supply terminal from the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller when the voltage at the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller is greater than the voltage at the VCONN supply terminal by a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of CC terminals of the USB-C controller comprises a pair of CC terminals of the USB-C controller.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of CC terminals of the USB-C receptacle comprises a pair of CC terminals of the USB-C receptacle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second electronic circuitry portion is configured to detect a reverse current flowing from the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller to the VCONN supply terminal based at least in part on the voltage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second electronic circuitry portion is configured to detect the voltage across a VCONN field-effect transistor (FET) disposed between the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller and the VCONN supply terminal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the VCONN FET comprises a cascode N-channel FET configured to operate at approximately 3 volts (V).

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the VCONN FET comprises a cascode N-channel FET configured to operate at approximately 5 volts (V).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the voltage comprises an indication of a reverse overcurrent condition.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold comprises a programmable threshold.

### Claim 10

A system, comprising:
a first electronic circuitry portion configured to connect a VCONN supply terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller to a first configuration channel (CC) terminal of a plurality of CC terminals of the USB-C controller;
a USB-C receptacle comprising a plurality of CC terminals, wherein a first CC terminal of the plurality of CC terminals of a USB-C receptacle is configured to directly connect to the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller; and
a second electronic circuitry portion electrically coupled to the first electronic circuitry portion and the USB-C receptacle, and configured to:
detect a voltage across the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller and the VCONN supply terminal; and
decouple the VCONN supply terminal from the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller when the voltage at the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller is greater than the voltage at the VCONN supply terminal by a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the second electronic circuitry portion is configured to detect a reverse current flowing from the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller to the VCONN supply terminal based at least in part on the voltage.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the second electronic circuitry portion is configured to detect the voltage across a VCONN field-effect transistor (FET) disposed between the first CC terminal of the USB-C controller and the VCONN supply terminal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the VCONN FET comprises a cascode N-channel FET configured to operate at approximately 3 volts (V).

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the VCONN FET comprises a cascode N-channel FET configured to operate at approximately 5 volts (V).

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the predetermined threshold comprises a programmable threshold.

### Claim 16

(canceled)

### Claim 17

(canceled)

### Claim 18

(canceled)

### Claim 19

(canceled)

### Claim 20

(canceled)