（4-1）USB Type-C Power Delivery Hits 240W with Extended Power Range

USB Type-C Power Delivery Hits 240W with Extended Power Range

The USB Promoter Group has launched revision 3.1 of the USB Power Delivery (USB PD)   specification to support 240W of power in 48V suppliers.

Before this update, USB PD was limited to 100W via a solution based on 20V using USB Type-Ccables rated at 5A. The USB Type-C specification has also been updated with Release 2.1 to define 240W cable requirements.

The combined USB PD protocol and power supply definition extends the applicability of USB PD toa large number of applications where 100W wasn’t adequate. The new USB PD architecture defines a much more stringent power negotiation protocol th athelps to ensure that access to and use of this higher power capability can bedone safely.

A new adjustablevoltage mode enables a range from 15V to one of three maximum voltages (28V,36V, or 48V) depending on the available power allowing the device being poweredto request specific voltages to a 100 mV resolution.

Safetyrequirements for products in the 100 – 240W range are also more stringent thanlower power products and are defined by the applicable safety specificationsdictated by the regulations for each country where the products will be sold.

“With the newcapabilities of USB Power Delivery 3.1, we now enable higher power productssuch as larger notebook PCs to shift from traditional power connectors to USBType-C,” said Brad Saunders, USB Promoter Group Chairman. “We also anticipate awider range of product application developers outside of the traditional USBecosystem to now consider standardizing on USB Type-C with USB PD power theirpower needs.”

The update ispart of the USB performance roadmap and is specifically targeted to developersrather than the consumer market.

The new 240W USBPD3.1 specification is supported by STMicroelectronics, TexassInstruments   for a higher-power, truly universal bus connector.