TW202503481A - Charger and charging system - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved charger and charging system for an electronic device is provided. The charger includes a power delivery controller configured to determine which pins of a USB Type-C connector are used for charging. The power delivery controller is capable of designating pins other than the VBUS pin for charging, thereby distributing the current for charging an electronic device more efficiently.

Description

Chargers and Charging Systems

The present invention generally relates to the field of electronic device charging systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a charger and a charging system for electronic devices using a USB Type-C connector and an enhanced charging mode.

In the world of electronic devices, charging efficiency and safety are critical. Traditional charging systems often use the standard power delivery (PD) protocol with a USB Type-C connector. In these systems, the VBUS pin of the Type C connector is often used for charging. However, this approach has several limitations. First, using a single VBUS pin for charging can result in uneven current distribution, which can overload the pin and reduce the life of the connector. This can also limit the charging speed because the current capacity of a single pin is limited. Second, traditional charging systems often lack flexibility in charging modes. They typically operate in a single fixed output voltage mode, regardless of the specific requirements or capabilities of the electronic device being charged. This can result in inefficiencies in energy usage and can damage electronic devices if the charging mode is not suitable for the device's requirements. However, some electronic devices, such as high-capacity batteries or motors, need to be charged in a constant current mode. In this case, the typical fixed output voltage cannot meet the charging requirements of the electronic device. In addition, conventional charging systems often have no mechanism to minimize standby and no-load power consumption when the charger is disconnected from the electronic device or the charger exits its operating mode. This can result in unnecessary energy waste and reduce the overall efficiency of the charging system. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an improved charger and charging system to address these limitations of the prior art.

The present invention provides an improved charger and charging system for electronic devices, which solves the limitations of previous technologies. The charger includes a power transfer controller configured to determine which pins of the USB Type-C connector are used for charging. The power transfer controller can designate other pins other than the VBUS pin for charging, thereby more efficiently allocating the current used to charge the electronic device. The charger includes a first power line that connects the power line of the charger to the designated pin. The first power line may include a switch that can be turned on to disconnect the first power line. When the electronic device supports this mode, the charger operates in an enhanced charging mode. Furthermore, the electronic device includes a second power line that connects the designated pin to the power line of the electronic device. When the electronic device does not support this enhanced charging mode, the enhanced charging mode is disabled. The information exchange protocol between the charger and the electronic device determines whether the electronic device supports the enhanced charging mode. When the electronic device supports the enhanced charging mode, the switch on the first power line is turned on, allowing power to flow through the first power line and the second power line and start charging. The charger may also include resistors mounted on the first power line and the power line of the charger to achieve current balancing. The charger supports a multi-stage charging mode, including a trickle charging stage using a minimum constant current, a pre-charging stage using a higher constant current, a fast charging stage using a higher constant current, and a constant voltage charging stage in which the voltage remains constant but the current gradually decreases as it approaches full charge. When the charger is disconnected from the electronic device or exits its operating mode, the output voltage of the power converter is reduced to the minimum allowable operating value, so that the power transmission controller enters the sleep mode to minimize the standby power consumption. In order to make the above features and advantages of this patent more obvious and easy to understand, the following is a preferred embodiment and a detailed description with the attached drawings as follows.

The invention is best understood with reference to the detailed description and accompanying drawings set forth herein. Various embodiments are discussed below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to the accompanying drawings is for illustrative purposes only, as the methods and apparatus may extend beyond the described embodiments. For example, the teachings given and the requirements of a particular application may yield a variety of optional and suitable methods to implement the functionality of any detail described herein. Therefore, any method may extend beyond the specific implementation options described and illustrated in the following embodiments. The USB Type-C connector, also known as USB-C, is a type of USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector that has become popular in recent years due to its reversible plug orientation. It is designed to be small enough to fit in the charging port of a smartphone, but rugged enough to connect to larger devices such as laptops and desktop computers. Refer to Figure 1. Figure 1 shows the pin layout of the USB Type-C connector. The USB Type-C connector has a 24-pin design, 12 pins on each side, mirrored to ensure reversibility of the plug. In Figure 1, the designated name and function of each pin is indicated. The pin assignments are as follows: Type-C Receptacle A Pinout: A1: GND (Ground Return) A2: SSTXp1 (SuperSpeed Differential Pair #1, TX1+, Positive) A3: SSTXn1 (SuperSpeed Differential Pair #1, TX1-, Negative) A4: VBUS (Bus Power) A5: CC1 (Configuration Channel) A6: Dp1 (USB 2.0 Differential Pair, Position 1, D+, Positive) A7: Dn1 (USB 2.0 differential pair, position 1, D-, negative) A8: SBU1 (for sideband use) A9: VBUS (bus power) A10: SSRXn2 (SuperSpeed differential pair #4, RX2-, negative) A11: SSRXp2 (SuperSpeed differential pair #4, RX2+, positive) A12: GND (ground return) Type-C socket B pin layout: B1: GND (ground return) B2: SSTXp2 (SuperSpeed differential pair #3, TX2, positive) B3: SSTXn2 (SuperSpeed differential pair #3, TX2, negative) B4: VBUS (bus power) B5: CC2 (configuration channel) B6: Dp2 (USB 2.0 differential pair, position 2, D, positive) B7: Dn2 (USB 2.0 differential pair, position 2, D, negative) B8: SBU2 (sideband use) B9: VBUS (bus power) B10: SSRXn1 (SuperSpeed differential pair #2, RX1, negative) B11: SSRXp1 (SuperSpeed differential pair #2, RX1, positive) B12: GND (ground return) Each pin plays a specific function in the USB Type-C connector. For example, the VBUS pins (A4 and A9, B4 and B9) carry power to the bus, the GND pins (A1 and A12, B1 and B12) provide a ground return, and the SSTX and SSRX pins are used for SuperSpeed data transmission. The CC pins (A5 and B5) are used to detect cable direction and functional configuration, while the SBU pins (A8 and B8) are reserved for future use. In this embodiment, the power transfer controller in the charger can designate other pins other than the VBUS pin for charging, such as the TX1 and RX1 pins. These designated pins may include TX1 and TX2 pins (+/- pins), as well as GND pins for return current, such as TX2 and RX2 (+/- pins). This enables the charger to operate in enhanced charging mode and distribute charging current to the electronic device through designated pins. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a charging system of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown, and the charging system 100 includes a charger 110 and an electronic device 120. The charger 110 includes a power delivery controller 111, a first power line 112, a USB Type-C connector 113, and a power converter 115. The electronic device 120 includes a second power line 121, which is connected to a designated pin on a USB Type-C connector 123, which is connected to the USB Type-C connector 113 of the charger 110 through a USB Type-C cable (not shown). In addition, the second power line 121 connects the designated pin of the USB Type-C connector 123 to the power line 122 of the electronic device 120. The power delivery controller 111 is a key component of the charger 110, and is configured to determine which pins of the USB Type-C connector 113 are used for charging. Traditionally, the VBUS pin of the USB Type-C connector 113 is used for charging. However, in the present invention, the power transfer controller 111 has the ability to designate other pins other than the VBUS pin for charging. This function allows the current to be distributed and more pins to be arranged for charging the electronic device 120, thereby operating in an enhanced charging mode. The designated pins may include but are not limited to the TX1 pin and the TX2 pin. The first power cord 112 connects the power cord 114 of the charger 110 to the designated pin on the USB Type-C connector 113. The power cord 114 serves as a channel for current to flow from the power converter 115 to the USB Type-C connector 113. The connection between the first power line 112 and the designated pins (TX1+/- pins and TX2+/- pins) is established through a series of electrical contacts within the USB Type-C connector 113. These contacts ensure that the current transmission from the first power line 112 to the designated pins is safe and efficient. In this embodiment, the power converter 115 is a DC-DC converter, which is one of the components of the charger 110 and is responsible for converting the DC output of the AC-DC converter (not shown) into a lower or higher voltage DC power suitable for charging the electronic device 120. The power converter 115 can be designed to operate efficiently over a wide range of input voltages, providing flexibility in the charging process. In other words, the power converter 115 can provide different output voltages according to load conditions, such as 3.3V, 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 19V, 20V, 24V, 28V, 32V, 36V, 42V, 48V, 52V, 56V, and 58.8V. In some embodiments, the power converter 115 can also be an AC-DC converter directly connected to the main power source. It converts the incoming AC power into the required DC output constant voltage source (CV) or constant current source (CC). Therefore, the charging system 100 of the present invention can charge the electronic device 120 using other pins on the USB Type-C connector 113 except the VBUS pin by using the power transfer controller 111 and the first power line 112. This allows an enhanced charging mode that can provide improved charging performance. Referring to Figure 3A, the charging system 200 includes a charger 210 and an electronic device 220. The charger 210 includes a power transfer controller 211, a first power line 212 with a first switch 213, and a USB Type-C connector 214. The electronic device 220 includes a second power line 221 with a second switch 222. The above switches can be implemented using various types of electronic switches, such as MOSFETs, transistors, relays or other suitable components. The first switch 213 on the first power line 212 plays a key role in the operation of the charger 210. It can be turned on to disconnect the first power line 212, thereby controlling the flow of current from the charger 210 to the electronic device 220. Similarly, the second switch 222 on the second power line 221 can be turned on to disconnect the second power line 221, controlling the flow of current within the electronic device 220. The operation of the first switch 213 and the second switch 222 is coordinated through a handshake mechanism between the power transfer controller 211 of the charger 210 and the power transfer controller 223 of the electronic device 220. This handshake mechanism confirms whether the electronic device 220 supports the enhanced charging mode. If the electronic device 220 supports the enhanced charging mode, the first switch 213 on the first power line 212 and the fifth switch 216b on the power line 216 are closed, allowing power to flow through the first power line 212 and the second power line 221 and start charging. On the other hand, if the electronic device 220 does not support the enhanced charging mode, the first switch 213 on the first power line 212 is opened, disconnecting the first power line 212. In this case, the charger 210 and the electronic device 220 revert to standard PD charging. During standard PD charging, the power output of the power converter 115 in the charger 210 is directed to the VBUS pin of the USB Type-C connector 214 through the power line 216. This information exchange protocol ensures that the charging system 200 can adapt to the capabilities of the electronic device 220, provide an enhanced charging mode, and revert to standard PD charging when necessary. Therefore, the charging system 200 of the present invention can adaptively control the charging process according to the capabilities of the electronic device 220 by using switches and an information exchange protocol on the first power line 212. This allows an enhanced charging mode to be provided when the electronic device 220 supports it, thereby providing improved charging performance, and a standard charging mode to be provided when the electronic device 220 does not support it. In the above-mentioned embodiments, it is important to note that both the charger 210 and the electronic device 220 are equipped with signal lines, specifically signal line 219 and signal line 227, respectively. These signal lines are connected to the USB Type-C connector 214 and the Type-C connector 226, and contact various pins, such as CC1/CC2, DAT/CLK, RX/TX (UART), CANBUS, etc. A portion of these signal lines, namely, signal line 219 and signal line 227, are responsible for transmitting instructions from the power transfer controller 211 and the power transfer controller 223 to the switch. In addition, inside the electronic device 220, the signal line 227 is also used to transmit information to the load circuit 228. The load circuit 228 represents the part of the device that consumes power, such as a computer processor. In addition, if the load circuit 228 is a battery pack, the signal line 227 mainly transmits battery information, including information such as battery voltage, charging current, and temperature. It is worth mentioning that the description of signal line 219 and signal line 227 in FIG. 3A is purely for illustration. Industry experts will understand that the actual layout of the signal lines in actual applications will be much more complicated than shown in the figure. This simplified representation is used to make the diagram clearer and easier to understand. In a second embodiment, a fifth switch 216b is optionally installed on the power cord 216 of the charger 210. The purpose of this design is to prevent consumers from mistakenly connecting the charger 210 to other chargers. Therefore, the fifth switch 216b ensures that it is only turned on when the charger 210 is connected to a rechargeable device. In addition, a sixth switch 225 can be optionally installed on the power cord 224 of the electronic device 220. This design ensures that the sixth switch 225 is turned on only when the voltage provided by the charger 210 matches the voltage required by the electronic device 220. In addition, the power transfer controller 211 is able to reassign the functions of various pins on the USB Type-C connector 214, allowing enhanced functions beyond just power transfer while taking into account the needs of information transfer. For example, the D+/D- (Dp/Dn) pins can be reassigned as I2C (SDA/SCL) pins or CANBUS (CANH/CANL) pins. SDA (serial data) and SCL (serial clock) are used for I2C communication, a serial communication protocol. By reassigning these pins, the charger 210 and the electronic device 220 can communicate using the I2C protocol. This allows for more complex communication and negotiation of power requirements, enhancing the adaptability of the charging system 200. Similarly, the SBU1/SBU2 pins can be reassigned as RX/TX (UART) or DAT/CLK pins. RX and TX are typically used for serial communications, with RX used for receiving and TX used for transmitting, and DAT/CLK may refer to data and clock in a serial communication protocol. This reassignment can be used to update the firmware of the power transfer controller 211 of the charger 210 so that it can support new power transfer profiles or better optimize power transfer for a particular device. In addition, the USB (Universal Serial Bus) signal RX1+/-, RX2+/- pins, which are typically used to receive data at super speed, can be re-used as ground connections (GND). This reassignment can enhance the stability of the charging system 200. In summary, the charging system 200 of the present invention can provide enhanced functionality beyond just power transfer by reassigning pin functionality through the power transfer controller 211 and the power transfer controller 223. This includes more complex communication between the charger 210 and the electronic device 220, the ability to update the firmware of the charger 210 to optimize power transfer, and enhanced system stability by reusing pins that receive data as ground connections. These features collectively contribute to a more adaptable, efficient, and robust charging system. In some embodiments, current balancing (or current sharing) is a key aspect of ensuring that the electronic device 220 is charged efficiently and safely. This is accomplished by installing a resistor 212a on the first power line 212 and a resistor 216a on the power line 216. Resistor 212a and resistor 216a are strategically placed on the first power line 212 and power line 216, respectively. This is particularly important when the power transfer controller 211 designates multiple pins for charging, as it ensures that no single pin is subjected to too much current to avoid overheating or damage. The role of resistor 212a and resistor 216a is to limit the amount of current passing through the first power line 212 and power line 216, thereby ensuring that the current in the two lines is as equal as possible. In addition, there is a circuit (not shown) that can detect the state of current balance and immediately or gradually reduce the charging current to a safe rated value (such as less than 3A or 5A) when an unexpected unbalanced current occurs in the enhanced charging mode to protect the charger 210 and the electronic device 220. In other words, it keeps the charging current of one path up to 5A or 3A. The Type C cable can usually withstand 5A when there is an e-mark IC and 3A when there is no e-mark IC. In addition, there is a circuit (not shown in the figure) that can detect the output voltage status of the first power line 212 to the type C connector. If the voltage appears in the RX or TX pairs when it should not appear, it means that the first switch 213 of this path is abnormal, and the power supply should be stopped. For example, when the machine is just started, the controller has not yet issued a command to turn on the first switch 213, but the output voltage appears to be 5V. At this time, the controller will force the machine to shut down and stop supplying power. The necessary signal pins can also be optionally equipped with waterproof and high-voltage protection mechanisms. Therefore, the charger 210 of the present invention achieves current balancing by strategically placing resistors 212a and 216a on the first power line 212 and the power line 216, thereby ensuring that the charging process of the electronic device 220 is safe, efficient and stable. Please note that placing resistors, that is, adopting the droop method, is not the only way to achieve current sharing between the two paths of the second power line 216 and the first power line 213. Another method of this application is to use a current mirror circuit. In some embodiments, the charging system 100, 200 adopts a multi-stage charging mode as part of its enhanced charging mode. This multi-stage charging mode is intended to optimize the charging process and ensure that the electronic devices 120, 220 are charged efficiently and safely. Please refer to Figure 4, which illustrates the stages of the multi-stage charging mode. The figure shows that the charging system 200 transitions between the stages according to the charging status of the electronic device 220 to ensure that the charging process is efficient and safe. The multi-stage charging mode includes four main stages: trickle charging, pre-charging, constant current fast charging (hereinafter referred to as CC fast charging), and constant voltage charging. Each stage has specific current and voltage parameters, and the charging systems 100, 200 transition between these stages according to the charging status of the electronic device 220. In the trickle charging stage, the charger 210 provides the lowest constant current to the electronic device 220. This stage is usually used when the battery of the electronic device 220 is deeply discharged. The low current ensures that the battery is gently brought to a safer charge level. Once the battery reaches a certain charge level, the charging system 200 transitions to the pre-charge phase. In this phase, the charger 210 provides a higher constant current to the electronic device 220. This helps to further increase the battery's charge level. The CC fast charge phase follows the pre-charge phase. In this phase, the charger 210 provides a higher constant current to the electronic device 220. This phase is intended to quickly charge the battery to a significant percentage of its capacity. Once the electronic device 220 reaches a certain charge level, the charging system 200 transitions from the CC fast charge phase to the constant voltage charge phase. During the constant voltage charging phase, the voltage provided by the charger 210 remains constant, but the current continues to decrease. This phase ensures that the battery is fully charged without overcharging, which may cause damage. In addition to these four phases, in some embodiments, the multi-stage charging mode also includes a safety timer phase, as shown in Figure 4. This phase is intended to prevent overcharging, which may damage the electronic device 220 or reduce the efficiency of the charging process. The safety timer phase is triggered when the charging current falls below a certain value. If this happens, the charging process will be terminated to prevent any potential problems, and a specific time will pass before the constant voltage charging phase is triggered. In summary, the charging systems 100, 200 of the present invention ensure that the electronic devices 120, 220 are charged efficiently and safely by implementing a multi-stage charging mode. This method optimizes the charging process, extends the life of the battery, and enhances the overall user experience. In Figure 3B, the load circuit is a battery pack (Battery Pack) 228', and the internal circuit of the battery pack 228' can be divided into a battery management system 2281, a fuel meter circuit 2282, and a battery pack 2283. In other words, the battery pack 228' is a type of the load circuit 228 of Figure 3A. This design communicates with the battery pack 228' through the power transmission controller 223 to obtain the battery status information of the battery pack 2283. Such battery status information includes, for example, the target charging voltage and current, the current charging voltage and current, the remaining power, the temperature, the aging degree, etc. Then, the power transmission controller 223 will calculate these information according to the battery specifications and the current battery status, and return the "power draw requirement" or directly return it to the power transmission controller 211, and the power transmission controller 211 will determine the "power supply capability". In essence, the result of these interactions is the charging curve shown in FIG. 4, which means that the power transmission controller 223 determines the charging conditions according to the current status of the battery pack 2283. For example, when the remaining power is very low, the appropriate charging condition should be set to trickle charging. For example, when the battery condition is very good, it can also be set to short-term fast charging or standard charging according to user needs; however, when the battery temperature is high, the charging condition will be reduced to slow charging. Although slow charging is not shown in FIG. 4 , it is actually a charging current lower than that of fast charging, for example, 0.5 times or less of the current of fast charging. Therefore, the power transmission controller 223 continuously communicates with the battery pack 228′ and returns appropriate charging commands to the power transmission controller 211 according to the status of the battery pack 2283, so that the charger 210 provides charging conditions that meet the requirements. After receiving the charging command from the power transmission controller 223, the power transmission controller 211 will increase the output voltage of the power converter 115 through the signal line 219 according to the target charging voltage. While the power transmission controller 211 increases the output voltage of the power converter 115, it will also continuously detect the current flowing through the resistor 212a and the resistor 216a, so that the total charging current of the resistor 212a and the resistor 216a can match the target charging current. When the charging current is not large, such as less than 5A, the power line 213 and the power line 216 can selectively have only one arm turned on, or both arms can be turned on. In the event that the total current exceeds the target charging current, the charging current will be further reduced or turned off so that a certain charging safety can be maintained. Another simpler approach is to set various charging modes in the power transmission controller 223 and give each charging mode a unique ID. The battery pack also stores the charging mode ID that suits it. The power transmission controller 223 can send back information to the power transmission controller 211 by reading and comparing the ID of the battery pack, asking the power converter 115 to provide the battery pack with the correct charging mode. In FIG. 3B , the charger 210 shown in FIG. 3A must be used to charge the battery pack 228 ′. In order to allow a charger that generally complies with the PD standard to charge the battery pack 228 ′, a third switch 229 and a DC/DC conversion circuit 230 can be added between the USB type-C connector 226 and the battery pack 228 ′, as shown in FIG. 3C , which is connected in parallel with the second switch 222 . When the charger inserted into the USB type-C connector 226 is a standard PD charger, the output voltage of the USB type-C standard charger can be converted into the charging voltage required by the battery pack 2283 through the DC/DC conversion circuit 230 by turning on the third switch 229, and the rated power of the USB type-C standard charger can be selectively used as the upper limit of the power for charging the battery pack 2283 (but still based on the upper limit of the charging power acceptable to the battery capacity). When the external device inserted into the USB type-C connector 226 is a power-consuming device, the present device can also selectively play the role of a mobile power source, that is, the voltage of the battery pack 2283 can be converted into the charging voltage required by the power-consuming device through the DC/DC conversion circuit 230 by turning on the third switch 229, thereby charging the external device. In certain embodiments, the charging system 100, 200 of the present invention incorporates a sleep mode to minimize power consumption when the charger 210 is disconnected from the electronic device 110, 220 or exits its operating mode. This feature is intended to save energy and improve the overall efficiency of the charging system 100, 200. When the charger 210 is disconnected from the electronic device 220, or when the charger 210 exits its operating mode, the output voltage of the power converter 115 will be reduced to the minimum allowable operating value. The reduction in output voltage triggers the power transfer controller 211 to enter sleep mode. In this mode, the power transfer controller 211 minimizes its activity, thereby reducing the power consumption of the charger 210. The minimum allowable operating value of the output voltage is 3.3V in this embodiment. This value is selected to ensure that the power transfer controller 211 can still maintain its basic functions in sleep mode but does not consume too much power. The operating mode of the charger 210 is defined by the efficiency level. Specifically, when the charger 210 maintains an efficiency level above 90%~91% with a certain hysteresis, it is considered to be in its operating mode. This high efficiency level ensures that the charger 210 effectively converts power to the electronic device 220 while minimizing energy waste. Therefore, the charging system 100, 200 of the present invention ensures optimal power usage by implementing a sleep mode and a high-efficiency operating mode. This approach not only saves energy, but also improves the overall performance and life of the charger 210. The efficiency of the charger 210 related to the output power is further illustrated in Figure 5. FIG5 shows two curves with output power as the x-axis and efficiency as the y-axis, representing the efficiency-output power relationship when the charger 210 is plugged into a 115V socket and a 230V socket, respectively. The graph clearly shows that as the output power increases, the efficiency of the charger 210 also increases. It is worth noting that once the output power exceeds 45W, the efficiency exceeds the 90% threshold, indicating that the charger 210 has entered its operating mode. This high-efficiency operating mode ensures that the charger 210 effectively provides power to the electronic device 220 while minimizing energy waste. When the output power is less than 45W, the efficiency quickly drops below 90%, and the charger 210 exits its operating mode. At this time, the output voltage of the power converter 115 drops to the minimum allowable operating value of 3.3V, and the power transmission controller 211 enters sleep mode to minimize power consumption. Different output voltage levels can have different trigger points for entering sleep mode based on efficiency. For example, when the output voltage is 5V, the trigger point for efficiency can be set to 80%. In summary, Figure 5 provides a visual representation of how the efficiency of the charger 210 varies with the output power and how this relationship affects the operating mode and sleep mode of the charger 210. This figure further emphasizes the energy saving benefits of the charging system 200 of the present invention. Therefore, the charger in the series of embodiments of Figures 3A to 3C provides a flexible and adaptable charging solution that can meet the specific needs of different system devices, whether it is maximizing the charging current or retaining data transmission capabilities of certain pins. It should be noted that the multi-stage charging mode depicted in Figure 4 is not limited to the chargers described in the previous embodiments. Any charger equipped with a USB Type-C connector can implement the multi-stage charging mode. In other words, the multi-stage charging mode is applicable to a wide range of chargers that use USB Type-C connectors. In addition, as shown in Figure 6, the CC fast charging stage can further include multiple hierarchical stages. Each hierarchical stage transitions from a higher constant current to a lower constant current in a stepped manner. For example, during the CC fast charging stage, the hierarchical stages can be gradually reduced in the order of 1C, 0.5C, and 0.3C. The so-called 1C represents the charging current rate that fully charges the battery in 1 hour. In the CC fast charging stage, this stepped current reduction can reduce the overall charging time. In the actual implementation of the above embodiment, existing products from different manufacturers can be utilized, thereby eliminating the need to design new ICs from scratch. For example, the power transfer controller in the charger can be a Weltrend product, such as WT6676 or WT6677, or an Infineon product, such as EZ-PD™ PMG1-S3, or a Leadtrend product, such as LT6617. Similarly, the power transfer controller in the electronic device can be an Infineon product, such as EZ-PD™ CCG8, Etron EJ899. These products can be updated with firmware to achieve control of switches, set different charging modes, and set new functions for pins, such as specifying certain pins for power transfer. In addition, the power converter can be a Texas Instruments (TI) product, such as LM5145 or LM5146. It should be emphasized that these are merely examples, and the implementation of the present invention is not limited to these specific products. Other products with similar functions may also be used depending on the requirements of a particular application. The electronic devices mentioned in these embodiments may include a wide range of devices, including but not limited to laptops, smart phones, electric bicycles, electric scooters, household appliances, and power tools, etc. Each of these electronic devices has its own unique power requirements, and the charger of the present invention is intended to meet these different needs. In particular, for electronic devices that require a lot of power, such as electric bicycles and power tools, the charger can provide significant advantages. By utilizing the enhanced charging mode and designating additional pins for power transmission, the charger can provide a higher charging current than a typical charger using a USB Type-C connector. This allows for faster and more efficient charging of high-power devices, improving user experience and device performance. Additionally, the charger's flexibility in designating pins for power transfer or data transfer, as well as its ability to operate in different charging modes, makes it a versatile charging solution. It can adapt to the specific needs of the electronic device it is charging, whether that electronic device is a laptop that requires data transfer capabilities or an electric scooter that requires a high charging current. In summary, the charger of the present invention provides a significant improvement over traditional USB Type-C chargers, providing enhanced charging capabilities and flexibility to meet a wide range of electronic device needs. Although the present invention has been disclosed as above with preferred embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field may make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the scope defined by the attached patent application.

100: Charging system 110: Charger 111: Power transmission controller 112: First power line 113: USB Type-C connector 114: Power line 115: Power converter 120: Electronic device 121: Second power line 122: Power line 123: USB Type-C connector 200: Charging system 210: Charger 211: Power transmission controller 212: First power line 213: First switch 214: USB Type-C connector 216: Power line 216a: Resistor 216b: Fifth switch 219: Signal line 220: Electronic device 221: Second power line 222: Second switch 223: Power transmission controller 224: Power cord 225: Sixth switch 226: Type-C connector 227: Signal line 228: Load circuit 228’: Battery pack 2281: Battery management system 2282: Fuel meter circuit 2283: Battery pack 229: Third switch 230: DC/DC conversion circuit 310: Charger 410: Charger

Various embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustration and not intended to limit the scope in any way, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements, and the drawings are briefly described as follows: FIG. 1 shows the pin layout of the USB Type-C connector. FIG. 2 shows the charging system of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows the charging system of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B shows a variation of the electronic device of the charging system of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3C shows another variation of the electronic device of the charging system of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates the stages of a multi-stage charging mode. FIG. 5 provides a visual representation showing how the efficiency of the charger varies with the output power. FIG. 6 illustrates the stages of another multi-stage charging mode.

200: Charging system

210: Charger

211: Power transfer controller

212: First power line

213: First switch

214: USB Type-C connector

215: The fourth switch

216: Power cord

216a:Resistance

216b: The fifth switch

219:Signal line

220: Electronic devices

221: Second power line

222: Second switch

223: Power transfer controller

224: Power cord

225:Sixth switch

226: Type-C connector

227:Signal line

228: Load circuit

Claims (19)

A charger for an electronic device, the charger comprising: a power transfer controller configured to determine which pins of a USB Type-C connector are used for charging, wherein the power transfer controller can designate other pins except the VBUS pin for charging, and the designated pins are used to distribute current to charge an electronic device, thereby operating in an enhanced charging mode; and a first power line, connecting a power line of the charger to the designated pin. A charger as described in claim 1, wherein the designated pins include TX1/TX2 pins for transmitting bus voltage and RX1/RX2 pins for grounding. A charger as described in claim 1, wherein the first power line includes a switch that can be turned on to disconnect the first power line. A charger as described in claim 3, wherein the enhanced charging mode is triggered when the electronic device supports the enhanced charging mode, and the electronic device includes a second power cord, and the designated pin is connected to a power cord of the electronic device. In the charger as described in claim 4, an information exchange protocol between the charger and the electronic device determines whether the electronic device supports the enhanced charging mode, and when the electronic device supports the enhanced charging mode, the switch on the first power line is turned off, allowing power to flow through the first power line and the second power line and start charging, and when the electronic device does not support the enhanced charging mode, the switch on the first power line on the charger is turned on, disconnecting the first power line, and the charger and the electronic device resume standard PD charging. The charger as described in claim 1 further includes multiple resistors, which are respectively installed on the first power line and the power line of the charger to achieve current balance. A charger as described in claim 1, wherein the enhanced charging mode includes a multi-stage charging mode, the multi-stage charging mode including a trickle charging stage using a minimum constant current, a pre-charging stage using a higher constant voltage, a fast charging stage using a higher constant current, and a constant voltage charging stage in which the voltage remains constant but the current gradually decreases according to the load state. A charger as described in claim 7, wherein once the electronic device reaches a certain voltage charging level, the multi-stage charging mode switches from the fast charging stage to the constant voltage charging stage. A charger as described in claim 1, wherein when the charger is disconnected from the electronic device or exits its operating mode, the output voltage is reduced to a minimum allowable operating value, causing the power transfer controller to enter a sleep mode to minimize power consumption. A charging system for an electronic device, the charging system comprising: A charger, comprising: A power transfer controller, configured to determine which pins of a USB Type-C connector are used for charging, wherein the power transfer controller can designate other pins except the VBUS pin for charging, thereby operating in an enhanced charging mode; and A first power line, connecting a power line of the charger to the designated pin; and An electronic device, comprising a second power line, connecting the designated pin to the power line of the electronic device; wherein the designated pin is used to distribute current to charge the electronic device. A charging system as described in claim 10, wherein the designated pins include TX1/TX2 pins for transmitting bus voltage and RX1/RX2 pins for grounding. A charging system as described in claim 10, wherein the first power line includes a first switch that can be opened to disconnect the first power line, and the second power line includes a second switch that can be opened to disconnect the second power line. A charging system as claimed in claim 12, wherein an information exchange protocol between the charger and the electronic device determines whether the electronic device supports an enhanced charging mode, and when the electronic device supports the enhanced charging mode, the first switch on the first power line is closed, allowing power to flow through the first and second power lines and start charging. The charging system as described in claim 10 further includes a first resistor and a second resistor respectively installed on the first power line and the second power line to achieve current balance. A charging system as described in claim 10, wherein the enhanced charging mode includes a multi-stage charging mode, the multi-stage charging mode including a trickle charging stage using a minimum constant current, a pre-charging stage using a higher constant voltage, a fast charging stage using a higher constant current, and a constant voltage charging stage in which the voltage remains constant but the current gradually decreases according to the load state. A charging system as described in claim 10, wherein when the charger is disconnected from the electronic device or exits its operating mode, the output voltage of the charger is reduced to a minimum allowable operating value, causing the power transfer controller to enter a sleep mode to minimize power consumption. A charging system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electronic device further comprises a battery pack, the battery pack comprising a battery management system and a fuel gauge circuit; wherein the power transmission controller is configured to communicate with the battery pack to obtain battery status information; and the power transmission controller is further configured to adjust charging conditions according to the battery status information. A charging system as described in claim 12, wherein the electronic device further includes a battery pack, and the power transfer controller is configured to preset various charging modes, each charging mode has a unique ID, and the battery pack stores the ID corresponding to its optimal charging mode, allowing the appropriate charging mode to be selected based on a matching process between the battery pack's ID and the preset charging mode. A charging system as described in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the electronic device further comprises: a third switch connected in parallel with the second switch; and a DC/DC conversion circuit connected in series with the third switch and in parallel with the second switch; wherein the third switch and the DC/DC conversion circuit are electrically connected to the battery pack.

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