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Graduate
May 1, 2025
Solved

USB-C power supply schematic

  • May 1, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 1060 views

Hey,

 

I'm designing an stm32mpu1 board and I have the Discovery Kit (DK) as a reference design.In the DK I see the following schematic for the USB-C power supply (CN7):

 

oli1_0-1746089894619.png

I am not quite sure what the point of the MOSFETS is.

For the other USB-C (CN6) I see MOSFETS AND Bipolar transistors:

oli1_1-1746089982615.png

Can someone explain what they are for? I'm trying to decide weather I need them in my design or not. Until now I always just connected the power supply to my PMIC and all I ever needed was some ESDs for protection and decoupling/bulk caps.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Best answer by AScha.3

    Hi,

    the mosfets are for connecting the board 5V supply to the USB 5V  - or not .

    >I need them in my design or not

    Depends on : what you want to do with the USB :

    - you have a powered cpu/board and want just plug in a USB memory stick, so only host -> connect 5V to the usb .

    - you have a powered cpu/board, but want host and device (= connect to a PC on this plug also), 

    so you need some switches (the 2 mosfets ) to switch on 5V power to plug, to get a connected usbstick to work;

    but if you switch to device mode, to connect a PC, you dont want to get a short between your onboard 5V and the 4..5V coming from PC, so you have to switch off the mosfets .

     

    So..it depends, on what you want to do, whether you need switches controlled by your software and can decide, to power the USB, or not.

    1 reply

    AScha.3Answer
    Super User
    May 1, 2025

    Hi,

    the mosfets are for connecting the board 5V supply to the USB 5V  - or not .

    >I need them in my design or not

    Depends on : what you want to do with the USB :

    - you have a powered cpu/board and want just plug in a USB memory stick, so only host -> connect 5V to the usb .

    - you have a powered cpu/board, but want host and device (= connect to a PC on this plug also), 

    so you need some switches (the 2 mosfets ) to switch on 5V power to plug, to get a connected usbstick to work;

    but if you switch to device mode, to connect a PC, you dont want to get a short between your onboard 5V and the 4..5V coming from PC, so you have to switch off the mosfets .

     

    So..it depends, on what you want to do, whether you need switches controlled by your software and can decide, to power the USB, or not.

    oli1Author
    Graduate
    May 2, 2025

    God dammit thats makes a lot of sense. Thanks man!