Abstract: A clock signal conversion circuit includes an amplification circuit configured to amplify a differential clock signal having sub rail-to-rail voltage swings relative to a supply voltage, such that an amplified differential clock signal output by the amplification circuit has complementary positive and negative signal components with full rail-to-rail voltage swings relative to the supply voltage.

Abstract: A clock signal conversion circuit includes an amplification circuit configured to amplify a differential clock signal having sub rail-to-rail voltage swings relative to a supply voltage, such that an amplified differential clock signal output by the amplification circuit has complementary positive and negative signal components with full rail-to-rail voltage swings relative to the supply voltage.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) device includes a USB Type-C connector having a configuration channel (CC) terminal and an integrated circuit (IC) controller. The IC controller comprises a VCONN pin coupled to the CC terminal of the USB Type-C connector, an output terminal, and an on-chip voltage protection circuit coupled between the VCONN pin and the output terminal. The on-chip voltage protection circuit comprises a switch coupled between the VCONN pin and the output terminal, a pump logic coupled to a gate of the switch, a resistor coupled between the VCONN pin and the gate of the switch, and a diode clamp coupled between the gate of the switch and ground.

Abstract: A power supply architecture for USB Type-C controllers is described herein. In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) controller comprises a VCONN pin, a power rail coupled to internal circuits of the IC controller, and a VCONN switch coupled between the VCONN pin and the power rail. The VCONN switch comprises: a drain-extended n-type field effect transistor (DENFET) coupled between the VCONN pin and the power rail; a pump switch coupled to a gate of the DENFET; a resistor coupled between the VCONN pin and the gate of the DENFET; and a diode clamp coupled between the gate of the DENFET and ground.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C cable comprises a USB Type-C connector and an IC controller coupled thereto. The IC controller comprises a terminal coupled to a VCONN line of the USB Type-C cable, a transistor coupled between the terminal and an internal power supply of the IC controller, a resistive element coupled between the terminal and a control terminal of the transistor, and control logic. The IC controller is to: power on the transistor from a voltage, received at the terminal, falling across the resistive element; power on the internal power supply in response to the voltage being passed through the transistor; power up the IC controller in response to powering on the internal power supply; and operate the control logic to fully power on the transistor, and thus enter an active mode of the IC controller.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) device includes a USB Type-C connector having a configuration channel (CC) terminal and an integrated circuit (IC) controller. The IC controller comprises a VCONN pin coupled to the CC terminal of the USB Type-C connector, an output terminal, and an on-chip voltage protection circuit coupled between the VCONN pin and the output terminal. The on-chip voltage protection circuit comprises a switch coupled between the VCONN pin and the output terminal, a pump logic coupled to a gate of the switch, a resistor coupled between the VCONN pin and the gate of the switch, and a diode clamp coupled between the gate of the switch and ground.

Abstract: A power supply architecture for USB Type-C controllers is described herein. In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) controller comprises a VCONN pin, a power rail coupled to internal circuits of the IC controller, and a VCONN switch coupled between the VCONN pin and the power rail. The VCONN switch comprises: a drain-extended n-type field effect transistor (DENFET) coupled between the VCONN pin and the power rail; a pump switch coupled to a gate of the DENFET; a resistor coupled between the VCONN pin and the gate of the DENFET; and a diode clamp coupled between the gate of the DENFET and ground.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first switch configured to connect a first sideband use (SBU) terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller to a first SBU terminal of a USB-C receptacle. The electronic device also includes a second switch configured to connect a second sideband use (SBU) terminal of the USB-C controller to a second SBU terminal of the USB-C receptacle. The electronic device further includes a voltage protection circuit configured to deactivate one or more of the first switch and the second switch when a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected. The voltage protection circuit includes a first set of diodes coupled to the first SBU terminal of the USB-C controller and a second set of diodes coupled to the second SBU terminal of the USB-C controller.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) cable comprises a respective integrated circuit (IC) controller, disposed at each end of cable, that is coupled to a respective VCONN line at that end of the cable. Each IC controller comprises a power rail, a VDDD terminal, a VBUS terminal, and a VCONN terminal that is coupled to the VCONN line at the respective end of the cable. The VDDD terminal, the VCONN terminal, and the VBUS terminal are coupled to the power rail. The power rail is coupled to internal circuits of the IC controller and is configured to provide operating power to the internal circuits of the IC controller from the its VCONN terminal.

Abstract: Techniques for low-power USB Type-C receivers with high noise rejection are described herein. In an example embodiment, a USB-enabled device comprises a receiver circuit coupled to a Configuration Channel (CC) line of a USB Type-C subsystem. The receiver circuit is configured to reject the incoming signal even when the incoming signal includes noise with a magnitude of more than 300 mVpp, and to operate in the presence of a VBUS charging current that is compliant with a USB-PD specification.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C cable comprises a USB Type-C connector and an IC controller coupled thereto. The IC controller comprises a terminal coupled to a VCONN line of the USB Type-C cable, a transistor coupled between the terminal and an internal power supply of the IC controller, a resistive element coupled between the terminal and a control terminal of the transistor, and control logic. The IC controller is to: power on the transistor from a voltage, received at the terminal, falling across the resistive element power on the internal power supply in response to the voltage being passed through the transistor; power up the IC controller in response to powering on the internal power supply; and operate the control logic to fully power on the transistor, and thus enter an active mode of the IC controller.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C connector subsystem is described herein. An integrated circuit (IC) chip device includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C subsystem. The USB Type-C subsystem is to operate an Ra termination circuit that consumes no more than a first predetermined amount of current after the Ra termination circuit is applied to a Vconn line of the Type-C subsystem, or to operate a standby reference circuit in a low power mode of the device to perform detection on a Configuration Channel (CC) line of the Type-C subsystem, where the device consumes no more than a second predetermined amount of current in the low power mode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device for a USB Type-C cable includes a first terminal to couple to a first VCONN line from a first end of the cable, a second terminal to couple to a second VCONN line from the second end of the cable, a charge pump, and a switch circuit coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal. The switch circuit includes a first drain-extended n-type field effect transistor (DENFET) coupled between the first terminal and an internal power supply of the semiconductor device; a first pump switch coupled between the charge pump and a gate of the first DENFET; a second DENFET coupled between the second terminal and the internal power supply; and a second pump switch coupled between the charge pump and a gate of the second DENFET.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) cable comprises a respective integrated circuit (IC) controller, disposed at each end of cable, that is coupled to a respective VCONN line at that end of the cable. Each IC controller comprises a power rail, a VDDD terminal, a VBUS terminal, and a VCONN terminal that is coupled to the VCONN line at the respective end of the cable. The VDDD terminal, the VCONN terminal, and the VBUS terminal are coupled to the power rail. The power rail is coupled to internal circuits of the IC controller and is configured to provide operating power to the internal circuits of the IC controller from the its VCONN terminal.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first switch configured to connect a first sideband use (SBU) terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller to a first SBU terminal of a USB-C receptacle. The electronic device also includes a second switch configured to connect a second sideband use (SBU) terminal of the USB-C controller to a second SBU terminal of the USB-C receptacle. The electronic device further includes a voltage protection circuit configured to deactivate one or more of the first switch and the second switch when a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected. The voltage protection circuit includes a first set of diodes coupled to the first SBU terminal of the USB-C controller and a second set of diodes coupled to the second SBU terminal of the USB-C controller.

Abstract: A power supply architecture for USB Type-C controllers is described herein. In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) controller comprises a power rail, a VDDD terminal, a VCONN terminal, and a VBUS terminal. The VDDD terminal, the VCONN terminal, and the VBUS terminal are coupled to the power rail, where a VCONN switch is coupled between the VCONN terminal and the power rail, and a VBUS regulator is coupled between the VBUS terminal and the power rail. The power rail is coupled to internal circuits of the IC controller and is configured to provide operating power to the internal circuits from any one of the VCONN terminal and the VBUS terminal.

Abstract: A power supply architecture for USB Type-C controllers is described herein. In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) controller comprises a power rail, a VDDD terminal, a VCONN terminal, and a VBUS terminal. The VDDD terminal, the VCONN terminal, and the VBUS terminal are coupled to the power rail, where a VCONN switch is coupled between the VCONN terminal and the power rail, and a VBUS regulator is coupled between the VBUS terminal and the power rail. The power rail is coupled to internal circuits of the IC controller and is configured to provide operating power to the internal circuits from any one of the VCONN terminal and the VBUS terminal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device for a USB Type-C cable includes a first terminal to couple to a first VCONN line from a first end of the cable, a second terminal to couple to a second VCONN line from the second end of the cable, a charge pump, and a switch circuit coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal. The switch circuit includes a first drain-extended n-type field effect transistor (DENFET) coupled between the first terminal and an internal power supply of the semiconductor device; a first pump switch coupled between the charge pump and a gate of the first DENFET; a second DENFET coupled between the second terminal and the internal power supply; and a second pump switch coupled between the charge pump and a gate of the second DENFET.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first switch configured to connect a first sideband use (SBU) terminal of a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) controller to a first SBU terminal of a USB-C receptacle. The electronic device also includes a second switch configured to connect a second sideband use (SBU) terminal of the USB-C controller to a second SBU terminal of the USB-C receptacle. The electronic device further includes a voltage protection circuit configured to deactivate one or more of the first switch and the second switch when a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold is detected. The voltage protection circuit includes a first set of diodes coupled to the first SBU terminal of the USB-C controller and a second set of diodes coupled to the second SBU terminal of the USB-C controller.

Abstract: A semiconductor device for a USB Type-C cable includes a first terminal to couple to a first VCONN line from a first end of the cable, a second terminal to couple to a second VCONN line from the second end of the cable, a charge pump, and a switch circuit coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal. The switch circuit includes a first drain-extended n-type field effect transistor (DENFET) coupled between the first terminal and an internal power supply of the semiconductor device; a first pump switch coupled between the charge pump and a gate of the first DENFET; a second DENFET coupled between the second terminal and the internal power supply; and a second pump switch coupled between the charge pump and a gate of the second DENFET.