Abstract: A USB cable, an e-marker device, and a humidity detection method for a USB connector are provided. The USB cable includes a first USB connector, a second USB connector, and an e-marker device. The second USB connector is coupled to the first USB connector. The e-marker device is coupled to a CC pin and a target pin of the first USB connector. The e-marker device detects a parasitic electrochemical impedance between the target pin and ground during a test period. The e-marker device obtains humidity information of the first USB connector based on the parasitic electrochemical impedance.

Abstract: A multilayer-type on-chip inductor includes a first winding portion arranged in an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer, which includes first and second semi-circular stacking layers arranged from inside to outside and in concentricity. A second winding portion includes third and fourth semi-circular stacking layers arranged symmetrically with the first semi-circular stacking layer and the second semi-circular stacking layer, respectively, with respect to a symmetry axis. A conductive branch layer is disposed in an insulating redistribution layer over the IMD layer. The first, second, third, and fourth semi-circular stacking layers each include an uppermost trace layer and a next uppermost trace layer vertically stacked under the uppermost trace layer.

Abstract: A USB IC, an operation method thereof, and a USB device are provided. The USB IC is disposed in the USB device and includes a sideband use interface circuit coupled to a sideband use pin of a USB connector of the USB device, and a control circuit. The control circuit is coupled to the sideband use interface circuit and reports a first adapter configuration to a USB host via the sideband use interface circuit so that the USB host enumerates the USB device. The control circuit observes a behavior of the USB host to the USB device after the USB device is enumerated. The control circuit determines whether the first adapter configuration is suitable for a connection manager of the USB host according to the behavior. If not, the control circuit reports a second adapter configuration to the USB host so that the USB host re-enumerates the USB device.

Abstract: A differential amplification device and a compensation method thereof. The differential amplification device includes a first terminal signal circuit, a second terminal signal circuit and a controller. The first terminal signal circuit and the second terminal signal circuit respectively generate a first terminal signal and a second terminal signal of a differential output signal to a first terminal of a transmission path. The controller adjusts first element parameters of the first terminal signal circuit or second element parameters of the second terminal signal circuit based on a transmitted differential signal at a second terminal of the transmission path to compensate for asymmetric influence by the transmission path on the first terminal signal and the second terminal signal of the transmitted differential signal. Adjustment of the first element parameter of the first terminal signal circuit is independent of adjustment of the second element parameter of the second terminal signal circuit.

Abstract: A multilayer-type on-chip inductor with a conductive structure includes an insulating redistribution layer disposed on an inter-metal dielectric layer, a first spiral trace layer disposed in the insulating redistribution layer, and a second spiral trace layer disposed in the inter-metal dielectric layer correspondingly formed below the first spiral trace layer, wherein the inter-metal dielectric layer has a separating region to divide the second spiral trace layer into a plurality of line segments, and wherein each of a plurality of first slit openings and each of a plurality of second slit openings pass through a corresponding line segment, and extend in an extending direction of a length of the corresponding line segment.

Abstract: A power delivery (PD) controller integrated circuit (IC) and a control method for a power switch are provided. A first terminal and a second terminal of the power switch are respectively coupled to a power pin of a universal serial bus (USB) connector and a power input terminal of a functional circuit. The PD controller IC generates a power switch control voltage to control the power switch. The PD controller IC may adjust a level of the power switch control voltage in stages during a power-on period of the functional circuit to gradually turn on the power switch.

Abstract: A PD controller integrated circuit of a USB apparatus is disclosed, including a CC pad, a first switch, a second switch, a PD controller circuit, a high voltage sensing circuit, and a switch control circuit. The high voltage sensing circuit senses the CC pad. When a current voltage of the CC pad does not exceed a rated range, the first switch and the second switch connected in series between the CC pad and the PD controller circuit are turned on. When the current voltage exceeds the rated range, the first switch and the second switch are turned off, and the switch control circuit maintains a voltage of a common node between the first switch and the second switch at a reduced level lower than the current voltage.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC), a testing system, and an operating method are provided. The IC includes a receiver circuit and a processing circuit. The receiver circuit processes a communication signal based on a setting threshold voltage and multiple current operating parameters. The processing circuit obtains at least one current parameter among the current operating parameters. When a host inquires the IC about a receiver margin for the communication signal, the processing circuit obtains eye height data corresponding to the current parameter from a parameter-to-eye height mapping relationship, and returns the receiver margin corresponding to the eye height data to the host. A testing device of the testing system calculates the eye height data based on a setting testing threshold voltage and a target parameter corresponding to a test signal, and generates the parameter-to-eye height mapping relationship based on the target parameter and the eye height data.

Abstract: A protection circuit applied in a hub chip including a power pin, a first data pin, and a second data pin is provided. A voltage generation circuit generates and adjusts output voltage according to the voltage of the power pin and the voltage of the first data pin. A PMOS transistor includes a first gate, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first bulk. The first electrode is coupled to the power pin. The second electrode is coupled to the first data pin. The first bulk receives the output voltage. A detection circuit is coupled to the first gate and detects the voltage of the power pin. In response to the voltage of the power pin being equal to the first voltage, the detection circuit transmits the voltage of the first data pin to the first gate.

Abstract: A USB integrated circuit (IC), a testing platform and an operating method for USB integrated circuit are provided. The USB integrated circuit includes a USB port physical layer (PHY) circuit, a first lane adapter, a second lane adapter, a routing circuit, and a USB transport layer circuit. The USB PHY circuit is configured to transmit a differential signal between the USB integrated circuit and an outside device. When the USB integrated circuit operates in a testing mode, the routing circuit electrically connects the first lane adapter to the USB PHY circuit. When the USB integrated circuit operates in a working mode, the routing circuit electrically connects the second lane adapter to the USB PHY circuit. The USB transport layer circuit is coupled to the first lane adapter and the second lane adapter.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus and a secure firmware update method thereof are provided. The electronic apparatus includes a first integrated circuit chip, a first non-volatile memory chip, a second integrated circuit chip and a second non-volatile memory chip. The first integrated circuit chip includes a secure firmware update console, and the first non-volatile memory chip includes a spare data storage space. The first non-volatile memory chip and the second non-volatile memory chip store a first firmware code of the first integrated circuit chip and a second firmware code of the second integrated circuit chip, respectively. Firmware code update data are transferred to and stored in the spare data storage space. The secure firmware update console performs a firmware update procedure by writing the firmware code update data into the second non-volatile memory chip to overwrite the second firmware code after passing a verification procedure on the firmware code update data.

Abstract: A multi-port power supply device and an operation method thereof are provided. The multi-port power supply device includes a power converter, a power switch, a current detection circuit, a voltage detection circuit, a control circuit, and multiple USB ports. The power converter supplies power to a USB port via a current path. The control circuit determines whether the USB port is connected to a USB device according to an actual voltage of the current path. When the USB port is not connected to the USB device, the control circuit turns off the current path. When the USB port is connected to the USB device, after a part of a power of other USB ports is dynamically transferred to the USB port, the control circuit determines whether to turn on the current path according to an actual current of the current path.

Abstract: Power management device and method for a consumer product are provided. The power management device includes a memory, a configuration channel interface circuit and a control circuit. When a power supply device is electrically connected to a connector of the consumer product, the control circuit performs a power delivery protocol conforming to a USB specification on the power supply device through the configuration channel interface circuit and a configuration channel pin of the connector, so as to determine a power mode in which the power supply device supplies power to the consumer product. After the power delivery protocol is performed successfully, based on at least one protocol profile stored in the memory, the control circuit performs a vendor-defined messaging protocol on the power supply device through the configuration channel interface circuit and the configuration channel pin, so as to determine whether to change the power mode.

Abstract: A connection interface conversion chip, a connection interface conversion device and an operation method are provided. The connection interface conversion chip includes a USB interface circuit, a DP interface circuit, a USB core circuit and a switching circuit. The USB interface circuit is suitable for coupling to a USB connector. The DP interface circuit is coupled to a DP sink device through a DP connector. The USB core circuit is coupled to both the USB interface circuit and the DP interface circuit. The switching circuit is coupled to both the USB interface circuit and the DP interface circuit. The switching circuit supports only one specific conduction mode that only allows transmitting DP signals between the USB interface circuit and the DP interface circuit.

Abstract: A multi-port power supply device and an operation method thereof are provided. The multi-port power supply device includes multiple USB ports, multiple power converters, and a common control circuit. When an adjustment trend of an agreement power of a first USB port will make the agreement power greater than a rated minimum charging power of a USB device connected to the first USB port, the common control circuit dynamically changes the agreement power according to an actual output power of the first USB port. When the adjustment trend of the agreement power will make the agreement power less than the rated minimum charging power, the common control circuit does not change the agreement power, and the common control circuit dynamically transfers a power difference between the agreement power and the actual output power to other USB ports.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip has an active surface and a chip pad arrangement on the active surface. The chip pad arrangement includes four pairs of chip pads arranged in two rows along a side edge of the active surface. Two pairs of chip pads are a first transmission differential pair chip pad and a first reception differential pair chip pad respectively. Positions of the two pairs of chip pads are not adjacent to each other and are in different rows. The other two pairs of chip pads are a second transmission differential chip pad and a second reception differential chip pad respectively. Positions of the other two pairs of chip pads are not adjacent to each other and are in different rows. In addition, a package substrate corresponding to the integrated circuit chip and an electronic assembly including the package substrate and the integrated circuit chip are also provided.

Abstract: A USB integrated circuit (IC), a testing platform and an operating method for USB integrated circuit are provided. The USB integrated circuit includes a USB port physical layer (PHY) circuit, a first lane adapter, a second lane adapter, a routing circuit, and a USB transport layer circuit. The USB PHY circuit is configured to transmit a differential signal between the USB integrated circuit and an outside device. When the USB integrated circuit operates in a testing mode, the routing circuit electrically connects the first lane adapter to the USB PHY circuit. When the USB integrated circuit operates in a working mode, the routing circuit electrically connects the second lane adapter to the USB PHY circuit. The USB transport layer circuit is coupled to the first lane adapter and the second lane adapter.

Abstract: A USB IC, an operation method thereof, and a USB device are provided. The USB IC is disposed in the USB device and includes a sideband use interface circuit coupled to a sideband use pin of a USB connector of the USB device, and a control circuit. The control circuit is coupled to the sideband use interface circuit and reports a first adapter configuration to a USB host via the sideband use interface circuit so that the USB host enumerates the USB device. The control circuit observes a behavior of the USB host to the USB device after the USB device is enumerated. The control circuit determines whether the first adapter configuration is suitable for a connection manager of the USB host according to the behavior. If not, the control circuit reports a second adapter configuration to the USB host so that the USB host re-enumerates the USB device.

Abstract: A multilayer-type on-chip inductor with a conductive structure includes an insulating redistribution layer disposed on an inter-metal dielectric layer, a first spiral trace layer disposed in the insulating redistribution layer, and a second spiral trace layer disposed in the inter-metal dielectric layer and correspondingly formed below the first spiral trace layer. The inter-metal dielectric layer has a separating region to divide the second spiral trace layer into line segments. First slit openings each passes through a corresponding line segment, and extends in an extending direction of a length of the corresponding line segment.

Abstract: A switch chip includes a first switch device, a first ESD protection device and a second ESD protection device. The first switch device is electrically coupled between a first pad and a second pad. The first ESD protection device is electrically coupled to a third pad which is electrically coupled to the first pad by a first bond wire. The second ESD protection device is electrically coupled to a fourth pad which is electrically coupled to the second pad by a second bond wire.