Ground and supply cable compensation architecture for usb power delivery subsystem

A method for operating a Universal Serial Bus (USB)-enabled device comprising a multi-port integrated circuit (IC) controller, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the IC controller, a first ground signal indicative of a first ground potential at a first USB-C connector that is coupled to the multi-port IC controller via a first cable;
• receiving, by the IC controller, a second ground signal indicative of a second ground potential at a second USB-C connector that is coupled to the multi-port IC controller via a second cable;
• and
• receiving, by the IC controller, a system ground signal, wherein the first ground signal and the second ground signal are electrically isolated from the system ground signal;
• adjusting, by the IC controller, a first power voltage (VBUS) signal on a first voltage supply terminal based on the first ground signal and the system ground signal;
• and
• adjusting, by the IC controller, a second VBUS signal on the first voltage supply terminal based on the second ground signal and the system ground signal.

A system comprising:

• a first Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) connector;
• a second USB-C connector;
• a multi-port Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller coupled to the first USB-C connector via a first cable and the second USB-C connector via a second cable, wherein the multi-port USB-C controller comprises:
• a first ground terminal to couple to a system ground;
• a second ground terminal to receive a first ground signal indicative of a first ground potential at a first USB-C connector that is coupled to the multi-port USB-C controller via a first cable, wherein the first ground signal is electrically isolated from the system ground;
• a third ground terminal to receive a second ground signal indicative of a second ground potential at a second USB-C connector that is coupled to the multi-port USB-C controller via a second cable, wherein the second ground signal is electrically isolated from the system ground;
• a first voltage supply terminal to couple to a first power voltage (VBUS) terminal of the first USB-C connector;
• a second voltage supply terminal to couple to a second VBUS terminal of the second USB-C connector;
• a first power control circuit (PCU) coupled to the first ground terminal, the second ground terminal, and the first voltage supply terminal, the first PCU to adjust a first VBUS signal on the first voltage supply terminal based on the first ground signal and the system ground;
• and
• a second PCU coupled to the first ground terminal, the third ground terminal, and the second voltage supply terminal, the second PCU to adjust a second VBUS signal on the first voltage supply terminal based on the second ground signal and the system ground.