The USB-IF launched a few new specs lately – R2.1 for Type-C and R3.1 for USB-PD. The important replace is the ‘Extended Power Range’ side that permits for supply of as much as 240W over Type-C setups supporting the related USB-PD profile.
The first USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) specification was launched in 2012, and it has seen common updates through the years. Initially, the main target was on enabling sooner charging charges for smartphones and different such units (which had been utilizing proprietary charging schemes or the USB-BC battery charging specs). After the discharge of the Type-C specs in 2014, USB-PD turned a sizzling matter once more. In addition to charging, the attractiveness of a single port for each knowledge and energy I/O – notably from the perspective of compact and slim notebooks – introduced in the necessity to shore up the quantity of energy transferred between a supply and a sink. Prior to the discharge of USB-PD R3.1, certifications from the USB-IF have been in place for gear able to sourcing / sinking as much as 100W (barely lesser in sensible circumstances). The newly launched specs confer with the modes in R3.zero as ‘Standard Power Range’ (SPR).
USB-PD R3.1 helps three charging fashions:
- Fixed voltage
- Programmable energy provide (PPS), and
- Adjustable voltage provide (AVS).
In the fastened voltage scheme, the Standard Power Range (SPR) mode helps 3A and 5A at 5V, 9V, 15V, and 20V. The 3A configuration helps between 15 and 60W. The 5A scheme requires a selected sort of cable and might provide as much as 100W. The new Extended Power Range (EPR) mode helps all voltage and present combos of SPR, and in addition contains 5A provide at 28V, 36V, and 48V, permitting for help as much as 240W.
In the programmable energy provide (PPS) scheme accessible in SPR mode, currents are restricted by the supply and the cable’s marketed capabilities. While the programmed voltage ranges monitor those within the fastened voltage scheme, the precise voltage might range between 3.3V and 5.9V (for the 5V setting), 11V (for the 9V setting), 16V (for the 15V setting), and 21V (for the 20V setting) in steps of 20mV.
In the EPR mode, the AVS mannequin permits for the voltage to be adjusted between 15V and certainly one of 28V, 36V, or 48V in steps of 100mV relying on the negotiated EPR contract. The supply and sink have to enter this particular EPR mode and the cable between them additionally must help EPR for these new voltages to be enabled.
EPR specs maintain security in thoughts by permitting sources to reduce to 5V with a tough reset in case of unresponsive downstream sinks. The sink can be required to maintain up periodic communication with ‘keep-alive’ messages to the supply on this mode.
Cables supporting EPR want a obligatory digital marking indicating EPR compatibility utilizing ‘EPR Mode Capable’ bit set. Standard Power Range cables (SPR) help solely as much as 100W PD. Receptacles and cables supporting EPR want further mechanical issues to forestall shorting / arcing in the course of the connection course of. Towards this, the mechanical specs of the cables in addition to receptacles are getting updates. Arcing is feasible throughout unplug operations, and that is being mitigated by size variations between the CC and VBUS pins (permitting the detection of disconnect occasions early sufficient to get the supply to cut back the present previous to the complete disconnection). A snubber capacitor at both cable finish is really helpful to assist with this function.
EPR permits provide of as much as 5A at 48V, however the cables themselves have to help as much as 53.65V, and the capacitors used should be rated for 63V. The digital marking on the cables are alleged to specify 50V/5A with seen EPR identification icons for finish customers.
Thumb drives sinking greater than 3A or supporting…
