9922 quick charger technology〈QC2.0、QC3.0、PE+、PE+2.0、USB PD〉test solution

The 9922 controller can simulate fast charge protocol signals for mobile phones, tables and notebook computers for a wide variety of fast charging devices to support rapid testing and verification of the device charger.

A standard banana plug can be connected directly to the binding post of an electronic DC load allowing the DC load to simulate load for the fast charging power supply under test.

For connection to the unit under test (UUT), the 9922 provides a Micro USB and a USB Type C socket interface. Images of the front panel and rear of the controller are shown in Figure 1. Pin out definitions for both USB sockets are detailed in Table 1 and Table 2.

Other USB charger connector types can be accommodated by using specific adaptor cables such as USB Type A to Micro USB, USB Type A to USB Type C or USB Type C to USB Type C.  These cables can be plugged in to the 9922 Quick Charger Controller's Micro USB or USB Type C ports.

Figure 1: Front panel and rear of controller module

 USB Type-C pin definition 

Table 1 : Type C USB Connector Pins

 USB Type A and Micro USB pin definition 

Table 2 : USB Type A Micro Connector Pins

1-1 Equipment connection and operation

1-2 Panel operation

1. MODE Key

Press the MODE key. You can select one of the available fast charge control technology by cycling through the available options: QC 2.0 -> QC 3.0 -> PE + -> PE + 2.0 -> PD.  The selected quick charge control technology is embedded in the 9922 to comply with the fast charging charger’s (UUT) supported control protocol.

2. UP Key

Increase the programmed voltage value. For the QC3.0 and PE + 2.0 modes, the function of UP key can be either a short press for a small change; Or press and hold the UP key for 2 seconds to quickly increase the voltage value. Please refer to the key operation list below.

3. DOWN Key

Decrease the programmed voltage value. For the QC3.0 and PE + 2.0 modes, the function of DOWN key can be either a short press for a small change; Or press and hold the DOWN key for 2 seconds to quickly decrease the voltage value. Please refer to the key operation list below.

4. UP+DOWN Key

Due to the PE + and PE + 2.0 control technology, the voltage will automatically return to the default +5 V output if there is no load detected. Thus, to avoid user programming of the  output voltage, do not immediately press the Load ON button of the electronic load to start load testing. This causes the test PE + or PE + 2.0 fast charger to automatically return to + 5V.

The 9922 controller supports a parameter for the user to set the programming hold time of 0 ~ 5.0 seconds (PE + and PE + 2.0 use only). During this time, the 9022 will continue to sink  0.3A current to prevent the PE+ or PE+2.0 charger from going to the default +5 V state. As long as the user presses the Load ON button of the load within the programmed hold time, the charger can adjust its output voltage according to the UP/DOWN key setting.Press the UP and DOWN keys simultaneously for two seconds to enter the 9922programmable Hold Time  setting mode. 

Press the UP or DOWN button to increase or decrease the programming hold time setting in the range of 0 ~ 5 seconds with a resolution 0.1 second.

Press and hold: UP or DOWN button for two seconds to increase or decrease the programming hold time in the range of 0 ~ 5 seconds with a resolution 1.0 second.

Press the START Key to store the programmable hold time setting into the RAM of 9922. This will exit the hold time setting mode.

5. START Key

Press the START key briefly: 

Press and hold for 2 seconds: 

 Chapter 2  Quick Charger 2.0 and 3.0 Protocol Testing 

The principle of QC 2.0 charging

The charger detects the voltage of D + and D - on USB to control the output voltage of the charger, as shown in Table 3:

Table 3 : QC 2.0 control table

The 9922 Quick Charger Controller can simulate the various voltage combinations of D +, D- for QC 2.0 testing to verify the output voltage of the test charger being tested. It also simulates the connection and removes the connection to the charger to verify that the charger can be automatically change the high voltage output down to 5V. 

This verifies that the charger meets the Quick Charge 2.0 specification.

Figure 2: QC Charger Connection Diagram

Figure 3 : QC 2.0 Voltage Transition Test

At present there are many manufacturers’ products to support Quick Charge devices, such as HTC, SONY, MOTOROLA, Google, Samsung, Asus and so on.Because Quick Charge 2.0 has a significant performance advantage in reducing the charging time, it is very convenient for users. It is expected that this will become more common. This requires that charger must be redesigned from the current standard 5V / 1A @ 5W to the 15W or 18W QC standard in order to be able to support quick charging.

In addition to Quick Charge 2.0, Qualcomm also introduced the next generation of Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging technology. QC 3.0 uses an even better voltage precision algorithm called Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage or INOV.  It can further reduce power losses up to 45%. Quick Charge 3.0 chargers can adjust output volt with 0.2V resolution, from 3.6V to 20V, to get the most appropriate voltage for a mobile phone and as to achieve improved efficiency while reducing heat problems.

 Operating instructions of 9922 in QC 2.0 mode 

1. Select mode

Press the MODE button to switch to QC2.0, then QC2.0 LED lights.

2. Set the output voltage

Press UP, DOWN button to increase or decrease the voltage setting 5.0 ~ 20.0V.

3. Start

Press the START button to start changing the output voltage value.

The principle of QC 3.0 charging

The Charger detects the D + and D on the USB voltage and pulse to control the charger output voltage, as shown in the table below

Table 3 : QC 3.0 control table

The difference between QC 3.0 and QC 2.0 is in increasing the voltage fine-tuning resolution.D + PULSE allows Vout voltage increases of 0.2V, D-PULSE allows Vout voltage reduction of 0.2V. Test results are shown below. 16 steps of D + PULSE increases Vout voltage by 3.2V while 16 steps of D-PULSE decreases Vout voltage by 3.2V.

Quick Charge 3.0 Ramp Up 3.2V and Ramp Down 3.2V

The 9922 Quick Charger Controller is capable of simulating D +, D- pulse control in 0.2V increments and decrements to verify and test the output voltage of the charger to ensure compliance with the Quick Charge 3.0 specification. Refer to the samples shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 : QC 3.0 Test Voltage Output Examples

 Operating instructions of 9922 in QC 3.0 mode 

1. Select mode

Press the MODE button to switch to QC3.0, then QC3.0 LED lights

2. Set the output voltage

Short press : press UP, DOWN button to increase or decrease the voltage setting, resolution 0.2V

Press 2 seconds : Press UP, DOWN button to increase or decrease the voltage setting 3.6 ~ 20.0V

3. Start
Press the START button to start changing the output voltage values.

 Chapter 3  Pump Express Plus & Pump Express Plus 2.0 Testing 

Pump Express is the quick charge product of MediaTek. It has been extended to version 3.0 and uses a high voltage and high current to provide a fast charge.
This protocol has been used by SONY, Lenovo, Gionee, Meizu and other PC brands. The features of Pump Express allow the charger to determine the initial voltage required for charging based on the current drawn. The pulse current command from the PMIC in the phone or device is sent to the charger via USB Vbus. The charger adjusts the output voltage according to this instruction.

MediaTek currently has two fast charge specifications：

（1） Pump Express Plus provides output power for fast DC chargers less than 15W (5V) similar to QC2.0, controlled output Fixed voltage: 5V, 7V, 9V, 12V, mainstream Output power :5V / 1A & 5V / 1.5A.

（2） Pump Express Plus 2.0 for the charger to provide the output power is greater than 15W, the difference is the output voltage can be controlled, similar to QC3.0 but based on 0.5V be increase or decrease, from 5V to 20V voltage to get the most appropriate voltage for mobile phone so as to achieve improved efficiency while reducing heat problems.

The principle of Pump Express

Use the command (sink different current) control Adapter output different voltage, as shown in Figure 2 & 3, current Ilow <0.13A, Ihigh> 0.3A, PE shall sink current of at least 0.3A immediately in the conversion voltage, otherwise the voltage will automatically jump back 5V. As shown below...

Current Pattern - PE+2.0

Figure 6: PE+ 2.0 Timing Diagram

Figure 7: PE 1.0 and PE+ 2.0 Chargers

The 9922 Quick Charger Controller, which is capable of simulating commands and loads a different current, current Ilow <0.13A and Ihigh> 0.3A to verify and test the output voltage of the charger to ensure compliance with PE specifications. Refer to Figure 8.

Figure 8: PE Charger Connection Diagram

 The operating instructions of 9922 in PE+  

1. Select mode

Press the MODE button to switch to PE +, then the LED of PE + lights up

2. Set the output voltage

Press UP, DOWN button to increase or decrease the voltage setting 5.0V / 7.0V / 9.0V / 12.0V

3. Start.
Press the START button to start changing the output voltage values

 The operating instructions of 9922 in PE+ 2.0 

1. Select mode

Press the MODE button to switch to PE + 2.0, then the LED of PE + 2.0 lights up

2. Set the output voltage

Short Press: Press UP, DOWN button to increase or decrease the voltage setting 0.5V

Press 2 seconds: press UP, DOWN button to increase or decrease the voltage setting 5.0V / 9.0V / 12.0V / 20.0V

3. Start

Press the START button to start changing the output voltage values.

 Chapter 4  USB Type-C support USB Power Delivery 

Figure 9: USB PD and Type Power Chargers

The principle of Power Delivery

USB-PD uses a 24Mhz modulated FSK signal coupled to the VBUS as a protocol layer for communication between the charger and the device.
The following is an example based on mobile phones and chargers, supported by USB PD :

• The PHY of the USB OTG monitors the VBUS voltage. If the VBUS 5V voltage I and detects the OTG ID pin pull-down resistor is determined to be at least 1K Ohm indicating non OTG Host mode - the ID resistance of OTG Host mode is less than 1K - , this indicates the USB connection supports USB PD.
• The USB OTG will use the normal BCS V1.2 standard charger protocol and starts the USB PD device policy manager.  The policy manager monitors the VBUS DC level if it is coupled with the FSK signal, and the decoding message gets a CapabilitiesSource message. Conform the USB PD Specification, the Resolution message includes a list of all voltage and current combinations supported by the USB PD Charger.
• The phone selects a voltage and current pair from the CapabilitiesSource message according to the user's configuration and adds the voltage and current pairs to the payload of the Request message. Then the policy manager couples the FSK signal to the VBUS DC level.
• The charger decodes the FSK signal and issues an Accept message to the handset while adjusting the Power supply's DC voltage and current output.
• The phone receives an Accept message to adjust the charging voltage and current of the Charger IC.
• The phone can send a Request message dynamically during charging to request the charger to change the output voltage and current to achieve a faster charging process.

Prodigit’s 9922 Quick Charger Controller includes a PD-controller chip which can simulate the device to verify and test the USB PD testing process. The operator can use all the simple operations to complete all the tedious tests to ensure compliance with the PD specification. This is illustrated in Figure 9 below.

Figure 10: USB PD Charger Protocol Support

Figure 11: USB-PD FSK Signals on VBU

 The operating instructions of 9922 in USB PD 

1. Select mode

Press the MODE button to switch to the PD, then PD LED lights up

2. Set the output voltage
Press the UP and DOWN buttons to select the voltage output from 1 to 7 groups

3. Start.
Press the START button to start changing the output voltage

※ ※ Note : Take USB PD as an example, the output voltage is only three groups, one group is 5V, the second group is 9V, the third group is 20V.

6010 ATE for Quick Charger System Diagram

 Conclusion