The interface chip, also known as the I/O interface chip, is an integrated circuit embedded in an electronic device, whose main function is to act as an intermediary to realize the communication and data exchange between the processor (such as the CPU) inside the device and the external device. They play a crucial role in energy storage systems, ensuring that information can be effectively transmitted between different components, while addressing issues such as speed matching, signal conversion, protocol compatibility, and so on. Generally speaking, the I/O interface chip provides users with an interface to interact with the energy storage device, such as charging or powering external devices through USB, Type-C and other interfaces. This includes managing Power transfer protocols (such as USB Power Delivery) during charging, ensuring compatibility with various devices and optimal charging efficiency. Through these I/O interfaces, the chip can receive input signals from the user’s operation (such as key control), and control the LED display to display the current power, working status and other information to enhance the user experience. In some advanced portable energy storage products, the I/O interface may support Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or wired communication protocols, allowing users to remotely monitor the status of the energy storage device through a smartphone application, adjust Settings, or receive fault alerts, which usually requires a dedicated communication interface chip to handle these communication tasks. At the same time, the I/O interface chip also participates in the implementation of security protection measures, such as over-temperature protection, short-circuit protection, over-charge and over-discharge protection, by monitoring the data of the relevant sensors, and cutting off the power supply or taking other protection measures when an anomaly is detected. Moreover, portable energy storage devices are usually equipped with a variety of output interfaces (such as AC AC output, DC output, USB fast charge, etc.), and each interface may require a special I/O management chip to control the output voltage and current to ensure compatibility with different appliances. Some portable energy storage devices may use I/O interface chips to collect usage data, such as charge and discharge cycles, power consumption statistics, etc., which can be used for product performance analysis or software to optimize user experience. Application of interface chips in portable energy storage There are many types of I/O interface chips, and different types and models are suitable for different application scenarios. In portable energy storage devices, USB interface chips (such as E-Marker chips that support USB PD) are used, which can not only help manage data transmission, but also be responsible for the negotiation of power transmission to ensure the safety and efficiency of the charging process. Of course, it should be noted that E-Marker chip is not directly used in portable energy storage products, but is mainly used in USB Type-C cables to convey the electrical characteristics of cables, such as power transmission capability, data transmission speed, cable identification information, etc., to ensure safe and efficient interaction with devices with USB Type-C interfaces. If the USB Type-C is used as the charging interface, the Type-C cable connecting the energy storage system and the charging source may have a built-in E-Marker chip to ensure the safety and compatibility of power transmission. In addition, portable energy storage products usually need to charge and discharge management of the battery, and the I/O interface chip can be used to monitor the battery status, such as voltage, current, temperature, etc., and achieve power management functions through communication with the MCU. Some I/O interface chips support communication protocols such as MQTT and BLE to achieve data exchange between devices and servers or mobile devices. Because some high-end portable energy storage products may also integrate some intelligent functions, such as remote monitoring, fault diagnosis, etc., the interface chip needs to have these protocols to have data transmission functions. However, for portable energy storage products, the most important thing is to integrate a variety of output interfaces in order to adapt to different charging needs, such as AC, DC, Type-C, USB and so on. I/O interface chips play a key role here, supporting the communication protocols of these interfaces to ensure that the device can properly exchange energy with external devices. For example, using the USB PD controller, which is a chip dedicated to the power transmission management of the USB Type-C interface, many products can now support more than 100W power transmission, and can automatically negotiate the best charging power. There are also AC-DC or DC-DC converter controllers that handle the conversion between AC and DC or different DC voltage levels. When it comes to the communication between high-voltage and low-voltage circuits, such as the signal isolation between the AC interface and the main control, digital isolators or optocouplers, such as the ADUM series and TLP series, will be used. A wide variety of I/O interface chips are an integral part of modern electronic equipment. They simplify system design, improve system flexibility and compatibility, and ensure smooth communication between different components. These chips work together to ensure that portable energy storage products can be safely and efficiently interfacing with a variety of charging sources and load devices to meet diverse charging and output needs.

DSDP010 3BSE005274R1