From a performance perspective, USB type C is almost omnipotent. In terms of data transmission, it supports the USB 3.1 specification, and the data bandwidth of each channel can reach 10Gbps; It is also a power transmission interface for electronic devices, based on the latest USB-PD protocol, capable of transmitting up to 100W of power through USB type c; In addition, USB type C supports the transmission of both data and audio and video signals, making it a versatile tool; Finally, in terms of physical structure, the USB type C supports unidirectional forward and backward insertion, making the body slimmer and taking the user experience to a new level. From this, it can be seen that USB-IF has made sufficient preparations for the upgrade of product standards, and its "ambition" is evident.

However, when discussing the various "beauty" of USB type C, the issue of product reliability cannot be ignored. The risks caused by hot swapping, short circuit, ESD, faulty equipment, and user misoperation during use require reliable circuit protection measures to resolve. Otherwise, in the eyes of users who are picky, even the grandest "ambition" will inevitably be shattered to the ground.

Is the USB Type-C interface really versatile

In general, circuit protection includes overcurrent protection and overvoltage protection. There are four different design architectures for overcurrent protection in USB type C. The first approach is to directly adopt a PD controller IC that integrates power switches. This approach has a high level of integration and the best performance, but the cost is also relatively high. The second low-cost solution is the "PD controller+current sensing circuit", but its performance is limited. The other two solutions of "PD controller+external power switch" and "PD controller+MOSFET+PTC" have moderate costs, among which the latter is a unique solution of Bourns company, which can achieve the best cost-effectiveness, and there are multiple models available for developers to choose from within the voltage range of 5-20V.

The overvoltage protection of USB type C is achieved through TVS. Due to the directionless structure of USB type C, it has two sets of symmetrical interfaces, each consisting of two sets of 10Gbps high-speed data transmission and reception channels (SSRX+/SSRX -, SSTX+/SSTX -), a set of 480Mbps data channels (D+/D -) compatible with previous USB standards, and a set of dedicated channels (CC+/-) for USB-PD protocol communication. Therefore, the number of channels that need to be protected is also greater than previous USB interfaces, which requires the TVS array to come out. For this reason, circuit protection component manufacturers have launched miniaturization and high integration solutions. For example, Bourns' scheme utilizes two 6-channel TVS arrays CDDFN10-0516P columns and one 4-channel TVS array CDDFN10-0524P to achieve overvoltage protection for USB type c with just three devices.

With the promotion of USB type C applications, in addition to overvoltage and overcurrent protection, new protection requirements have gradually been discovered, such as over temperature protection. Due to the small size, small pin spacing, and the need to carry up to 100W of power, USB type C can easily increase internal resistance and cause overheating or even smoke and fire hazards if there is foreign object contamination at the cable interface end. So the necessity of adding over temperature protection to the online cable end is gradually being recognized. MCPC (Mobile Computing Promotion Consortium) in Japan already has clauses related to over temperature protection, and I believe that the European, American, and Chinese markets will follow suit in the future.

In terms of USB type C over temperature protection, some innovative products and solutions are gradually entering people's vision. The product manager of Shijian Company, a regional agent that has been involved in the field of type C since its early days, stated that Bourns Company has rich experience in over temperature protection and its proposed two solutions have competitive advantages: one is to use a mini Breaker temperature control device, which is a recoverable device that triggers when the temperature is abnormal (too high) and self recovers when the power supply is cut off or the temperature returns to a safe level; Another solution using P-TCO is a temperature triggered recoverable fuse, which is smaller in size and more competitive in cost compared to mini Breakers. These two solutions each have their own characteristics and can provide more differentiated space for developers with different application needs.

In order to make the above protection solutions more closely compatible with the overall USB type C solution, Shijian has developed a series of complete solutions tailored to market demand, including a USB type C controller that integrates the Cypress integrated PD protocol, an MPS high-efficiency power supply, and a Bourns ESD circuit protection device. This solution can provide developers with a cost-effective BOM list and make product development more convenient. Shijian Company further introduced that based on customer feedback, this solution that integrates industry-leading chips has excellent stability and reliability, and can be widely used in products such as Type-C Dongle, power adapters, and specialized eMark cables, especially in mid to high-end products with strong competitiveness.

In short, with the acceleration of the commercial process of USB type C, its powerful functions will gradually emerge, and various creative products will also emerge one after another. Users not only enjoy the powerful functionality of USB type C, but also balance reliability and security, which is a rare business opportunity for circuit protection device manufacturers.