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SamsungGranted patentCars & transportInterest 4/10

Samsung patents car charger that safely powers down USB devices

This patent describes a power supply device for vehicles that uses a USB Type-C connection to manage power for external gadgets. It detects when the car engine turns off and sends a signal to put connected devices into standby mode before cutting the power supply.

Why it mattersIt helps prevent data loss or battery drain in phones and laptops connected to a car's charging port when the vehicle is turned off.

In the filing’s own words

A power supply device powered by a battery of a vehicle according to various embodiments may comprise: a first interface configured to communicate with an external device; a power supply switch connected to a charging adapter configured to transform power supplied from the battery to control power output; and a processor operatively connected to the first interface and the power supply switch, wherein the first interface includes a USB Type-C interface for configuration channel (CC) communication between the external device and an electronic device; and the processor may be configured to: detect connection of the external device through the first interface, detect a first interrupt or a second interrupt related to vehicle power on/off from the vehicle, control power supply to the external device through the power supply switch, and control the power supply device to transmit a first signal or a second signal for controlling the power on/off of the external device to the external device through the first interface in response to the first interrupt or the second interrupt.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A power supply device powered by a battery of a vehicle comprising: a first interface configured to communicate with an external device; a power supply switch connected to a charging adapter configured to transform power supplied from the battery to control power output; and a processor operatively connected to the first interface and the power supply switch, wherein the first interface includes a USB Type-C interface for configuration channel (CC) communication between the external device and the power supply device; and the processor is configured to: detect connection of the external device through the first interface, control power supply to the external device through the power supply switch, based on detecting a first interrupt related to vehicle power off from the vehicle, control the power supply device to transmit a first signal for controlling the external device to switch to a stand-by state for power off through the first interface, and cut off power supply to the external device by opening the power supply switch after a predetermined period elapses since transmitting the first signal, and based on detecting a second interrupt related to vehicle power on from the vehicle, supply power to the external device by closing the power supply switch and control, when a predetermined period of time elapses after closing the power supply switch, the power supply device to transmit a second signal for controlling the external device to switch to a power-on state to the external device through the first interface.

Facts

Company
Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Official title
Power supply device and power supply control method of power supply device
Patent number
US12728806B2
Application number
18347954
Filed
Jul 6, 2023
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

B60R 16/033 Operations & transportH02J 7/47 Electricity & electronicsH02J 7/855 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.