COMMUNICATIONS FOR POWER DELIVERY SOLUTIONS

摘要

A protocol can specifie a power-sourcing voltage range that indicates power sourcing capabilities. Additional power sourcing capabilities can be communicated using voltage variations within the power-sourcing voltage range. A power-sourcing device can provide power to an external power-sinking device over a wired connection containing a plurality of wires. A voltage control circuit can be configured to drive a voltage over a wire of the plurality of wires. Processing circuitry can communicate, using the voltage control circuit, first power-sourcing capabilities to the external power-sinking device by setting the voltage over the wire to a value within the power-sourcing voltage range. The processing circuitry can also communicate, using the voltage control circuit, the additional power sourcing capabilities of the power-sourcing device using voltage variations on the wire, the voltage variations maintaining voltage on the wire within the power-sourcing voltage range.

主权项

1. An apparatus for use with a protocol that specifies a power-sourcing voltage range that indicates power sourcing capabilities and for communicating additional power sourcing capabilities using voltage variations within the power-sourcing voltage range, the apparatus comprising:
a power-sourcing device configured to provide power to an external power-sinking device over a wired connection containing a plurality of wires, the power-sourcing device including:
a voltage control circuit configured to drive a voltage over a wire of the plurality of wires; andprocessing circuitry configured to:
communicate, using the voltage control circuit, first power-sourcing capabilities to the external power-sinking device by setting the voltage over the wire to a value within the power-sourcing voltage range; andcommunicate, using the voltage control circuit, the additional power sourcing capabilities of the power-sourcing device using voltage variations on the wire, the voltage variations maintaining voltage on the wire within the power-sourcing voltage range.