TWM671169U - Power supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

A power supply device is provided. The power supply device includes a power supply and a power cable. The power supply provides a DC power source. The power supply includes a temperature detection circuit. A first end of the power cable is coupled to a load device and includes a first cable connector and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is positioned at the first cable connector. The first cable connector of the power cable is used to connect to the load device. A second end of the power cable is used to selectively couple to the power supply. When the second end of the power cable is coupled to the power supply, the temperature detection circuit is electrically coupled to the temperature sensor, and the temperature detection circuit determines whether to control the power supply to provide the DC power based on a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

Description

Power supply device

The novel invention relates to a power supply technology for a computer device, and in particular to a power supply device.

There are many types of power-consuming components in electronic devices, and the voltage values required to be used may be very different. Therefore, a power supply device is required to provide corresponding power for different power-consuming components.

In recent years, the graphics card devices in electronic devices have higher performance, but also higher power consumption. Under high power consumption, the connectors and sockets between the power supply device, the power cable and the graphics card device are also prone to melt. Although the connection between the graphics card device and the cable can be made tighter and the impedance during the connection can be reduced by redesigning the structure of the connectors and sockets, so as to reduce or even avoid the recurrence of the aforementioned melting events. Whether other methods can be used to avoid the occurrence of the aforementioned melting events is one of the research directions.

The novel invention provides a power supply device, which can reduce the probability of a power cable connector connected to a load device (such as a display card device) being melted due to excessive temperature.

The power supply device of the novel invention is suitable for coupling a load device, and the power supply device includes a power supply and a power cable. The power supply is used to provide a direct current power supply. The power supply includes a temperature detection circuit. The power cable selectively couples the power supply. The first end of the power cable is used to couple the load device and includes a first cable connector and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is arranged at the first cable connector. The power cable is coupled to the load device through the first cable connector. The second end of the power cable is used to selectively couple the power supply. When the second end of the power cable is coupled to the power supply, the temperature detection circuit is electrically coupled to the temperature sensor, and the temperature detection circuit determines whether to control the power supply to provide the DC power based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

Based on the above, the present invention embodiment sets a temperature sensor on the connector of the power cable connected to the load device (such as a graphics card device), and monitors whether the temperature of the jack of the load device is too high through the temperature sensing signal sent back by the temperature sensor, and controls the power supply not to provide DC power when the temperature is too high, thereby avoiding high temperature caused by the loose connection between the jack of the load device and the connector of the power cable, thereby reducing the probability of the power cable connector connected to the load device melting due to excessive temperature.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 100 and a power supply device 105 according to the present invention. The electronic device 100 may be a computer device, such as a personal computer, a server, a laptop, etc. The electronic device 100 includes a power supply device 105 and a load device 130. The power supply device 105 includes a power supply 110 and a power cable 120. The load device 130 is, for example, a graphics card device. The load device 130 may also be a motherboard device or a component with higher power consumption in the electronic device.

The power supply 110 is used to provide a DC power to the load device 130 through the power cable 120 so that the load device 130 operates. The DC power of the present embodiment can be 12V. The power supply 110 of the present embodiment mainly includes a temperature detection circuit 111, and also includes a cable jack 112 and a temperature sensing jack 114. The power cable 120 selectively couples the power supply 110. The first end of the power cable 120 includes a first cable connector 122 and a second cable connector 126. The temperature sensor 124 is disposed at the first cable connector 122. For example, the temperature sensor 124 can be disposed close to the first cable connector 122.

The second end of the second cable connector 126 is used to couple the power supply 110. The user can insert the second cable connector 126 of the power cable 120 into the cable jack 112 and the temperature sensing jack 114 of the power supply 110. The temperature sensing jack 114 is used to couple the temperature sensing circuit 111 in the power supply 110 to the temperature sensor 124 at the first cable connector 122 to monitor the temperature of the first cable connector 122. The first cable connector 122 is used to couple the load device 130. The user can insert the first cable connector 122 of the power cable 120 into the corresponding jack of the load device 130.

When the power cable 120 is coupled to the power supply 110, the temperature detection circuit 111 is electrically coupled to the temperature sensor 124. The temperature detection circuit 111 determines whether to control the power supply 110 to provide DC power based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 124 at the first cable connector 122. When the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 124 is too high, in order to avoid melting the first cable connector 122, the temperature detection circuit 111 will control the power supply 110 not to provide DC power.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cable jack and a temperature sensing jack on a power supply 111 according to the present invention. The power supply device 110-1 in FIG. 2 is one example of the power supply device 110 in FIG. 1 . The power supply device 110-1 has a plurality of jacks, including a cable jack 112-1 that complies with the 12VHPWR specification and a temperature sensing jack 114-1 for coupling a temperature sensor 124. The 12VHPWR specification of this embodiment can be a power cable connector or jack in the form of 12V-2×6.

FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a second cable connector in a power cable 120 according to the present invention. The second cable connector in FIG3 is an example of the second cable connector 126 in the power supply device 110 in FIG1 . The second cable connector in FIG3 includes a first connector 126-1 that complies with the 12VHPWR specification and a second connector 126-2 for coupling the temperature sensor 124.

FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a first cable connector in a power cable according to the present invention. FIG4 shows two types of first cable connectors 122-1 and 122-2, both of which are two examples of the first cable connector 122 in the power supply device 110 of FIG1. In addition to complying with the 12VHPWR specification, the first cable connectors 122-1 and 122-2 in parts (A) and (B) of FIG4 are also provided with temperature sensors 124-1 and 124-2 at positions close to the first cable connectors 122-1 and 122-2.

FIG5 is a circuit diagram of a power supply 110, a temperature detection circuit 111, and a power cable 120 according to the present invention. The power supply 110 includes the temperature detection circuit 111 and a DC output control circuit 520. The DC output control circuit 520 includes an enable terminal EN. The DC output control circuit 520 selectively provides a DC power supply DC12V in response to an enable signal on the enable terminal EN.

The temperature detection circuit 111 mainly includes a comparator 510 and a switching circuit SWC. The temperature detection circuit 111 also includes resistors R1~R4. The comparator 510 includes a non-inverting input terminal, an inverting input terminal and an output terminal. The inverting input terminal receives a temperature sensing signal TSS provided by the temperature sensor 124. In detail, one end of the resistor R1 receives a reference voltage VREF. The other end of the resistor R1 is coupled to the inverting input terminal of the comparator 510, and is coupled to one end of the temperature sensor 124 through the second connector 126-2 of the second cable connector.

The non-inverting input terminal receives the threshold voltage VTR. Specifically, the non-inverting input terminal is coupled to one end of the resistor R2 and one end of the resistor R3. The other end of the resistor R3 is coupled to the ground voltage GND and the other end of the temperature sensor 124 through the second terminal 126-2 of the second cable terminal. The other end of the resistor R2 receives the reference voltage VREF. The output terminal of the comparator 510 provides a comparison signal CMP.

The switch circuit SWC can be implemented by an N-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (NMOS) MN. The control end of the switch circuit SWC (e.g., the gate end of the NMOS) receives the comparison signal CMP. The first end of the switch circuit SWC (e.g., the source end of the NMOS) is coupled to the enable end EN of the DC output control circuit 520. The second end of the switch circuit SWC (e.g., the drain end of the NMOS) is coupled to the ground voltage GND. One end of the resistor R4 is coupled to the system voltage VCC, and the other end of the resistor R4 is coupled to the enable end EN of the DC output control circuit 520.

The temperature sensor 124 of the present embodiment is mainly composed of a thermistor NTCR. When the thermistor NTCR is heated, its own impedance value will decrease. When the temperature of the first cable connector 122 is normal, the thermistor NTCR still has a sufficient impedance value, so the voltage value of the temperature sensing signal TSS will be greater than or equal to the threshold voltage VTR. In this case, the comparison signal CMP provided by the output end of the comparator 510 is in a first level state (e.g., a low level state), so that the first end and the second end of the switch circuit SWC are cut off, and the enable signal on the enable end EN is in a second level state (e.g., a high level state) based on the resistor R4 and the system voltage VCC. When the enable signal is in a high level state, the DC output control circuit 520 provides a DC power source DC12V to the load device 130 in FIG. 1 .

On the other hand, when the temperature of the first cable connector 122 is too high, for example, when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 124 is approximately greater than 95-105 degrees Celsius or higher, the impedance value of the thermistor NTCR decreases, so the voltage value of the temperature sensing signal TSS will be less than the threshold voltage VTR. In this case, the comparison signal CMP provided by the output end of the comparator 510 is in a second level state (e.g., a high level state), so that the first end and the second end of the switch circuit SWC are mutually conductive, and the enable signal on the enable end EN is in a first level state (e.g., a low level state) based on the ground voltage GND. When the enable signal is in a low level state, the DC output control circuit 520 does not provide the DC power DC12V to the load device 130 of Figure 1.

In summary, the present invention provides a temperature sensor on the connector of the power cable connected to the load device (e.g., a graphics card device), and monitors whether the temperature of the socket of the load device is too high through the temperature sensing signal sent back by the temperature sensor, and controls the power supply not to provide DC power when the temperature is too high, thereby avoiding high temperature caused by the loose connection between the socket of the load device and the connector of the power cable, thereby reducing the probability of the power cable connector connected to the load device being melted due to excessive temperature.

100: electronic device 105, 110-1: power supply device 110: power supply 111: temperature detection circuit 112, 112-1: cable jack 114, 114-1: temperature sensing jack 120, 120-1, 120-2: power cable 122, 122-1, 122-2: first cable connector 124, 124-1, 124-2: temperature sensor 126: second cable connector 126-1: first connector 126-2: second connector 130: load device (graphics card device) 510: comparator 520: DC output control circuit R1~R4: resistor VREF: reference voltage TSS: temperature sensing signal NTCR: thermistor GND: ground voltage VTR: threshold voltage CMP: comparison signal SWC: switch circuit MN: N-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (NMOS) EN: enable terminal of DC output control circuit DC12V: DC power supply VCC: system voltage

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device and a power supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cable jack and a temperature sensing jack on a power supply according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a second cable connector in a power cable according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a first cable connector in a power cable according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a power supply, a temperature detection circuit, and a power cable according to the present invention.

100: Electronic devices

105: Power supply device

110: Power supply

111: Temperature detection circuit

112: Cable jack

114: Temperature sensor jack

120: Power cable

122: First cable connector

124: Temperature sensor

126: Second cable connector

130: Loading device (graphics card device)

Claims (10)

A power supply device is suitable for coupling a load device, the power supply device comprising: a power supply for providing direct current power, wherein the power supply comprises a temperature detection circuit; and a power cable, wherein the first end of the power cable is used to couple the load device and comprises a first cable connector and a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged at the first cable connector, wherein the power cable is coupled to the load device through the first cable connector, and the second end of the power cable is used to selectively couple the power supply, Wherein, when the second end of the power cable is coupled to the power supply, the temperature detection circuit is electrically coupled to the temperature sensor, and the temperature detection circuit determines whether to control the power supply to provide the DC power based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. A power supply device as described in claim 1, wherein the second end of the power cable further includes a second cable connector, wherein the power cable is coupled to the power supply via the second cable connector. A power supply device as described in claim 2, wherein the second cable connector includes a first connector that complies with the 12VHPWR specification and a second connector for coupling the temperature sensor; the power supply further includes a cable jack and a temperature sensing jack, the first connector is used to connect the cable jack to provide voltage to the load device; the second connector is used to connect the temperature sensing jack to monitor the temperature of the first cable connector. A power supply device as described in claim 3, wherein the first connector provides the DC power with a voltage of 12V to the load device. A power supply device as described in claim 1, wherein the power supply further comprises: A DC output control circuit, comprising an enable terminal, wherein the DC output control circuit selectively provides the DC power in response to an enable signal on the enable terminal. A power supply device as described in claim 5, wherein the temperature detection circuit comprises: A comparator, comprising a non-inverting input terminal, an inverting input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the inverting input terminal receives the temperature sensing signal provided by the temperature sensor, the non-inverting input terminal receives the threshold voltage, and the output terminal provides a comparison signal; and A switch circuit, wherein the control terminal of the switch circuit receives the comparison signal, the first terminal of the switch circuit is coupled to the enable terminal of the DC output control circuit, and the second terminal of the switch circuit is coupled to the ground voltage, wherein when the voltage value of the temperature sensing signal is greater than or equal to the threshold voltage, the comparison signal is in a first level state, the first terminal and the second terminal of the switch circuit are cut off, and the enable signal on the enable terminal is in a second level state, When the voltage value of the temperature sensing signal is less than the threshold voltage, the comparison signal is in the second level state, the first end and the second end of the switch circuit are connected to each other, and the enable signal on the enable end is in the first level state. A power supply device as described in claim 6, wherein the first level state is a low level state and the second level state is a high level state. A power supply device as described in claim 7, wherein the DC output control circuit does not provide the DC power when the enable signal is in the first level state, and provides the DC power when the enable signal is in the second level state. A power supply device as described in claim 6, wherein the switching circuit is an N-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (NMOS). A power supply device as described in claim 1, wherein the load device is a graphics card device.

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