Patent Application
20250139049
This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 112141479, filed on Oct. 30, 2023. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
The invention relates to anomaly detection of a universal serial bus (USB) connector, and particularly relates to a USB cable, an e-marker device and a humidity detection method for a USB connector.
Type-C USB connector (which is referred to as USB-C connector hereinafter) is an emerging and widely used interface. The USB-C connector not only supports typical USB data interconnection, but also supports diverse power delivery options. Based on a USB power delivery (PD) specification, an electronic device may provide power to another electronic device through a USB-C connector, such as a mobile power supply supplies power to a mobile phone, or a computer host supplies power to a monitor. In order to cope with diverse power delivery options, an e-marker may be installed in a cable of the Type-C USB specification. When the USB-C connector of the USB cable is connected to a USB-C connector that supports the USB PD specification and may be used as a power supply source, the power supply source may send a request message through a configuration channel (CC) pin of the USB-C connector, and the e-marker in the USB cable may reply a data message through the CC pin after receiving the request message. Therefore, the power supply source may learn relevant information of the USB cable, such as a withstand voltage, a withstand current, a withstand power and/or other information of the USB cable.
In some application scenarios, a power of the USB-C connector may be quite large (for example, from 5 watts to 100 watts), so that power supply security of the USB-C connector is one of many focuses of attention. For the power supply security, when the USB-C connector of the power supply source and the USB-C connector of the power receiving sink are connected to each other through the USB cable, based on the USB PD specification, the power supply source and the power receiving sink may exchange warning messages such as overvoltage and overcurrent messages through a CC line in the cable. When the USB-C connector is in a high-humidity environment, or even water intrudes into the USB-C connector (for example, the USB-C connector falls into water), the humidity (or moisture, liquid) may affect the power supply security. However, the existing USB technology cannot detect humidity (moisture) in the USB-C connector.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the information disclosed in the Background section does not mean that one or more problems to be resolved by one or more embodiments of the invention was acknowledged by a person of ordinary skill in the art.
The invention is directed to a universal serial bus (USB) cable, an e-marker device and a humidity detection method for a USB connector to obtain humidity (or moisture, liquid) information of the USB connector.
In an embodiment of the invention, the USB cable includes a first USB connector, a second USB connector, and an e-marker device. The second USB connector is coupled to the first USB connector, where a first configuration channel (CC) pin of the first USB connector is coupled to a second CC pin of the second USB connector. The e-marker device is coupled to the first CC pin and a target pin of the first USB connector. The e-marker device detects a parasitic electrochemical impedance between the target pin and ground during a test period. The e-marker device obtains humidity information of the first USB connector based on the parasitic electrochemical impedance.
In an embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned e-marker device includes an anomaly detection circuit. A communication terminal of the anomaly detection circuit is coupled to a first CC pin of a first USB connector. A detection terminal of the anomaly detection circuit is coupled to a target pin of the first USB connector. The anomaly detection circuit detects a parasitic electrochemical impedance between the target pin and ground during a test period. The anomaly detection circuit obtains humidity information of the first USB connector based on the parasitic electrochemical impedance.
The invention provides a humidity detection method for a USB connector including: detecting a parasitic electrochemical impedance between a target pin of the USB connector and ground during a test period; and obtaining humidity information of the USB connector based on the parasitic electrochemical impedance.
Based on the above description, the e-marker device according to the embodiments of the invention may detect the parasitic electrochemical impedance between any target pin of the USB connector and ground. In some embodiments, the target pin may include a sideband use (SBU) pin of the USB connector or other pins. Ideally, when the USB connector is in an environment with 0% humidity, the parasitic electrochemical impedance between the target pin and ground is infinite. As the environmental humidity increases, the parasitic electrochemical impedance between the target pin and ground becomes smaller. Therefore, the e-marker device may obtain the humidity information (environmental humidity) of the USB connector based on the parasitic electrochemical impedance. When the humidity information indicates that the environmental humidity of the USB connector may affect the power supply security, the power delivery between the USB connector and a USB host (power supply source) may be promptly cut off.
To make the aforementioned more comprehensible, several embodiments accompanied with drawings are described in detail as follows.
A term “couple (or connect)” used in the full text of the disclosure (including the claims) refers to any direct and indirect connections. For example, if a first device is described to be coupled to a second device, it is interpreted as that the first device is directly coupled to the second device, or the first device is indirectly coupled to the second device through other devices or connection means. Furthermore, “first”, “second”, etc. mentioned in the specification and the claims are merely used to name discrete components and should not be regarded as limiting the upper or lower bound of the number of the components, nor is it used to define a manufacturing order or setting order of the components. Moreover, wherever possible, components/members/steps using the same referential numbers in the drawings and description refer to the same or like parts. Components/members/steps using the same referential numbers or using the same terms in different embodiments may cross-refer related descriptions.
For example, a power pin 211 of the USB connector 210 (for example, an A4, A9, B4 or B9 pin of the USB connector 210) is coupled to a power pin 231 of the USB connector 230 (for example, an A4, A9, B4 or B9 pin of the USB connector 230) through a power line L_VBUS. The pin names “A1” to “A12” and “B1” to “B12” of the USB connector specified by the USB specification are well known, so that they are not repeated and are not marked in
The e-marker device 220 is coupled to a pin Vcon1 of the USB connector 210 and to a pin Vcon2 of the USB connector 230. Based on the actual design, the pin Vcon1 may be another CC pin of the USB connector 210 (such as a B5 pin of the USB connector 210), and the pin Vcon2 may be another CC pin of the USB connector 230 (such as a B5 pin of the USB connector 230). When the USB connector 210 is connected to a power supply source (such as the USB host 10 or the USB device 20 shown in
The e-marker device 220 is further coupled to the CC pin 215 of the USB connector 210 and the CC pin 235 of the USB connector 230. When the USB connector 210 (or 230) of the USB cable 200 is connected to a USB connector that supports a USB power delivery (PD) specification and may be used as a power supply source (such as the USB connector 11 or 21 shown in
The e-marker device 220 is further coupled to a target pin 216 of the USB connector 210. Although the “target pin” of the USB connector 230 is not shown in
Characteristic analysis of an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy circuit model on humidity or liquid provides an important method in electrochemical test technology for damage of the USB connector 210 caused by humidity or liquid. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy circuit model is an important strategy for studying kinetics of chemical ion formation and pitting surface phenomena of the pins of the USB connector. This method may detect ionization of an electric double layer structure, and activation of a passivation film conversion, induction of pitting corrosion, and an adsorption and desorption process of an active material on a pin surface caused by moisture on the pin surface of the USB connector. The characteristics of electrochemical impedance have been disclosed in various existing literatures, and details thereof are not repeated.
Ideally, i.e., the USB connector 210 is in an environment with a humidity of 0%, and the parasitic electrochemical impedance between the target pin 216 and ground is infinite. As the environmental humidity of the USB connector 210 increases, the parasitic electrochemical impedance between the target pin 216 and ground decreases. Therefore, in step S320, the e-marker device 220 may obtain humidity information (environmental humidity) of the USB connector 210 based on the parasitic electrochemical impedance of the target pin 216 (for example, the SBU pin). When the humidity information indicates that the environmental humidity of the USB connector 210 may affect power supply security, the power delivery between the USB connector 210 and the USB host (power supply source) may be promptly cut off. For example, in step S330, the e-marker device 220 may decide whether to pull up a voltage level of the CC pin 215 of the USB connector 210 to cut off the power delivery between the USB connector 210 and the USB host (for example, the USB host 10 as shown in
In overall, the e-marker device 220 may detect the parasitic electrochemical impedance between any target pin of the USB connector 210 and the ground. In some embodiments, the target pin 216 may include the SBU pin or other pins of the USB connector 210. Ideally, i.e., when the USB connector 210 is in an environment with a humidity of 0%, the parasitic electrochemical impedance between the target pin 216 and ground is infinite. As the environmental humidity increases, the parasitic electrochemical impedance between the target pin 216 and ground decreases. Therefore, the e-marker device 220 may obtain the humidity information (environmental humidity) of the USB connector 210 based on the parasitic electrochemical impedance. When the humidity information indicates that the environmental humidity of the USB connector 210 may affect power supply security, the power delivery between the USB connector 210 and the USB host (power supply source) may be promptly cut off.
A detection terminal of the anomaly detection circuit 221 is coupled to the target pin 216 of the USB connector 210 and the target pin 236 of the USB connector 230. In some embodiments, the target pin 216 may include the SBU pin or other pins of the USB connector 210, and the target pin 236 may include the SBU pin or other pins of the USB connector 230. The anomaly detection circuit 221 may perform the humidity detection method for the USB connector shown in
When the humidity information indicates that the environmental humidity of the USB connector 210 may affect the power supply security, the power delivery between the USB connector 210 and the USB host (power supply source) may be promptly cut off. For example, in some embodiments, the anomaly detection circuit 221 may decide whether to pull up the voltage level of the CC pin 215 of the USB connector 210 to cut off the power delivery between the USB connector 210 and the USB host based on the humidity information. In some other embodiments, the anomaly detection circuit 221 may provide the humidity information to the USB host through the CC pin 215 of the USB connector 210, and the USB host decides whether to cut off the power delivery between the USB connector 210 and the USB host.
In the embodiment shown in
Based on the control of the anomaly detection circuit 221, the multiplexer 222 couples the SBU pin (target pin 216) of the USB connector 210 to the detection terminal of the anomaly detection circuit 221 during the test period. The anomaly detection circuit 221 may detect the parasitic electrochemical impedance between the target pin 216 and ground during the test period.
The anomaly detection circuit 221 may obtain the humidity information (environmental humidity) of the USB connector 210 based on the parasitic electrochemical impedance of the target pin 216. When the humidity information indicates that the environmental humidity of the USB connector 210 may affect power supply security, the power delivery between the USB connector 210 and the USB host (power supply source) may be promptly cut off. After the test period ends, the multiplexer 222 couples the SBU pin (target pin 216) of USB connector 210 to the SBU pin (target pin 236) of the USB connector 230.
In the embodiment shown in
The control circuit 710 is coupled to the CC pin 215 of the USB connector 210. When the humidity information indicates that the environmental humidity of the USB connector 210 may affect power supply security, the control circuit 710 may promptly cut off the power delivery between the USB connector 210 and the USB host (power supply source). For example, in some embodiments, the control circuit 710 may determine whether to pull up the voltage level of the CC pin 215 of the USB connector 210 to cut off the power delivery between the USB connector 210 and the USB host based on the humidity information. In other embodiments, the control circuit 710 may provide the humidity information to the USB host through the CC pin 215 of the USB connector 210, and the USB host decides whether to cut off the power delivery between the USB connector 210 and the USB host.
The voltage circuit 723 may provide at least one threshold voltage to the comparison circuit 724. The threshold voltage provided by the voltage circuit 723 may be any voltage determined according to an actual design. For example, the threshold voltage provided by the voltage circuit 723 may be a reference voltage corresponding to a humidity of 80%. A first input terminal of the comparison circuit 724 is coupled to the detection terminal of the humidity detection circuit 720 to receive a voltage of the target pin 216 through the multiplexer 222. A second input terminal of the comparison circuit 724 is coupled to the voltage circuit 723 to receive the threshold voltage. The comparison circuit 724 compares the voltage of the detection terminal of the humidity detection circuit 720 (the voltage of the target pin 216) with the threshold voltage to obtain a comparison result. An output terminal of the comparison circuit 724 is coupled to the control circuit 710 to provide the comparison result as the detection result related to the parasitic electrochemical impedance EI.
Based on the description of “the resistor R101 and the resistor R102 provide a single threshold voltage to the comparison circuit 724”, those skilled in the art may infer that “the voltage circuit 723 provides a plurality of threshold voltages to the comparison circuit 724”. For example, a plurality of sets of voltage dividing circuits (for example, the resistors R101 and R102 are a set of voltage dividing circuits) are used to provide a plurality of threshold voltages to the comparison circuit 724. Alternatively, a plurality of resistors are connected in series to form one voltage dividing circuit with a plurality of voltage dividing nodes, where the plurality of voltage dividing nodes may provide the plurality of threshold voltages to the comparison circuit 724.
The first input terminal of the amplifier AMP111 is coupled to a second input terminal of the comparison circuit 724 to receive the threshold voltage provided by the voltage circuit 723. The threshold voltage provided by the voltage circuit 723 may be any voltage determined according to the actual design. For example, the threshold voltage provided by the voltage circuit 723 may be a reference voltage corresponding to a humidity of 80%. A second input terminal (for example, an inverting input terminal) of the amplifier AMP111 is coupled to a first input terminal of the comparison circuit 724 to receive the voltage of the target pin 216. The output terminal of the amplifier AMP111 is coupled to an output terminal of the comparison circuit 724 to provide the detection result related to the parasitic electrochemical impedance EI to the control circuit 710.
The threshold voltage V121 and the threshold voltage V122 may be different voltages determined according to the actual design. For example, the threshold voltage V121 may be a reference voltage corresponding to a humidity of 80%, and the threshold voltage V122 may be a reference voltage corresponding to a humidity of 60%, so that the threshold voltage V121 is smaller than the threshold voltage V122.
A first input terminal (for example, a non-inverting input terminal) of the comparator CMP121 is coupled to the voltage circuit 723 to receive the threshold voltage V121. A second input terminal (for example, an inverting input terminal) of the comparator CMP121 is coupled to the first input terminal of the comparison circuit 724 to receive the voltage of the target pin 216. An output terminal of the comparator CMP121 is coupled to the output terminal of the comparison circuit 724 to provide the detection result related to the parasitic electrochemical impedance EI to the control circuit 710. A first terminal of the resistor R121 is coupled to the CC pin Vconn of the USB connector (for example, the pin Vcon1 of the USB connector 210 and/or the pin Vcon2 of the USB connector 230). A second terminal of the resistor R121 is coupled to the output terminal of the comparator CMP121.
A first input terminal (for example, a non-inverting input terminal) of the comparator CMP 122 is coupled to the first input terminal of the comparison circuit 724 to receive the voltage of the target pin 216. A second input terminal (for example, an inverting input terminal) of the comparator CMP122 is coupled to the voltage circuit 723 to receive the threshold voltage V122. An output terminal of the comparator CMP122 is coupled to the output terminal of the comparison circuit 724 to provide the detection result related to the parasitic electrochemical impedance EI to the control circuit 710. A first terminal of the resistor R122 is coupled to the CC pin Vconn of the USB connector (for example, the pin Vcon1 of the USB connector 210 and/or the pin Vcon2 of the USB connector 230). A second terminal of the resistor R122 is coupled to the output terminal of the comparator CMP122.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the invention covers modifications and variations provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112141479 | Oct 2023 | TW | national |
