Advanced configuration

Introduction

This section provides a technical overview of the Power Delivery (PD) specification and introduces the High Power Delivery (HPD) system developed by Skycharge. PD is a standardized specification designed to facilitate efficient charging of a wide range of devices over a USB connection. It has been implemented in USB-C technology, enabling fast charging for devices such as MacBooks, Android devices, and Apple phones. Skycharge has developed the HPD system to handle significantly higher power requirements than PD.

High Power Delivery (HPD) System

The High Power Delivery (HPD) system, developed by Skycharge, is an advanced solution designed to cater to drones with demanding power requirements by allowing efficient charging at much higher power levels than PD.

Charge Source and Charge Sink

In the HPD system, the Charge Source serves as the power provider, while the Charge Sink is the device receiving power. The Charge Source supplies power to the Charge Sink through a dedicated power line connection.

Request and Power Adjustment

Upon detecting the presence of the Charge Sink, the Charge Source receives a power request from the Charge Sink device. The request specifies the desired power level for charging. The Charge Source analyzes the request and adjusts the power output accordingly to meet the requirements of the Charge Sink device. This adaptive power adjustment capability enables the Charge Source to accommodate different power levels, such as 25V 10A, 52V 30A, and any other combination within the voltage and current ranges specified in the product specifications.

Charging Process with HPD

1. Establish a physical connection between the Charge Source and the Charge Sink device using a suitable contact solution.
2. The Charge Source detects the presence of the Charge Sink device through the established connection.
3. The Charge Sink device sends a power request to the Charge Source, specifying the desired power level for charging.
4. The Charge Source acknowledges the request and adjusts the power output accordingly to align with the specified power level.
5. Power is transmitted from the Charge Source to the Charge Sink device through the dedicated power line.
6. The Charge Sink device receives the transmitted power and initiates the charging process based on the provided power level.

Charge Sink types

Skycharge provides two types of Charge Sinks: LIGHT and PLC. This section explains the key differences between the two types and their respective features.

Charge Sink LIGHT

The Charge Sink LIGHT is a compact and lightweight option designed for various applications. It offers a cost-effective solution for charging devices and does not have data storage or data transfer capabilities over the power line (PLC).

Charge Sink PLC

The Charge Sink PLC, on the other hand, is a slightly larger and heavier option that offers advanced functionality. It incorporates data storage capabilities and enables data transfer over the power line (PLC) to the Charge Source. This feature allows for the charging of diverse batteries and specifications using a single Charge Source.

Selection considerations

When choosing between the Charge Sink LIGHT and the Charge Sink PLC, several factors should be taken into account:

1. Size and Weight: The Charge Sink LIGHT is smaller and lighter compared to the Charge Sink PLC.
2. Functionality: The Charge Sink PLC offers data storage and data transfer capabilities over the power line (PLC), while the Charge Sink LIGHT does not.
3. Application Requirements: Assess the specific charging needs of your application to determine whether data storage and transfer capabilities are necessary.
4. Cost: The Charge Sink LIGHT typically presents a more affordable option compared to the Charge Sink PLC.

Charge Source configuration for correct Charge Sink type

To ensure successful charging, it is essential to configure every Charge Source correctly to support either the Charge Sink LIGHT or the Charge Sink PLC. This section provides instructions for configuring the Charge Source based on your selected Charge Sink type.

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Preconfigured Charge Source

Please note that your Charge Source comes preconfigured based on the selected Charge Sink type. Therefore, unless you fall into one of the following scenarios, you do not need to change the Charge Sink type in the Charge Source configuration file:

a) Experimental Purpose: If you are conducting experiments with both Charge Sink types.

b) Upgrading Charge Sink Type: If you have changed your Charge Sink type (e.g., upgrading from LIGHT to PLC).

It is crucial to understand that the detection method for the Charge Sink LIGHT and the Charge Sink PLC significantly differs. Consequently, setting the incorrect Charge Sink type in the Charge Source configuration file will prevent detection from occurring, resulting in the system failing to initiate the charging process.

To configure the Charge Source for your specific Charge Sink type, follow these steps:

1. Log into the Charge Source using the provided credentials. Detailed instructions for logging in can be found here.
2. Locate the configuration file within the Charge Source in /etc/skycharge.conf
3. Open the configuration file and locate the "detect-mode" parameter.
4. Assign the appropriate value to the "detect-mode" parameter based on your selected Charge Sink type. Below are the two possible values:

### Detect mode, value depends on the charge sink type
mux-hw2-detect-mode = capacity

### Detect mode, value depends on the charge sink type
mux-hw2-detect-mode = plc

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Restart the Skycharge daemon

When you update the configuration file, the changes won't become effective until skycharged is restarted. To manually restart skycharged you can invoke the command below.

Shell

systemctl restart skycharged

To verify the current system setup and parameters, including the Charge Sink type, you can utilize the following command:

skycharge-cli show-dev-params

Source has the following parameters:
	psu-type                           RSP-1600-48 (0x02)
	detect-mode                        CAPACITY (0x02)
	psu-fixed-voltage-mv               0
	psu-fixed-current-ma               0
	psu-use-fixed-v-i                  false
	nr-bad-heartbeats                  20
	ignore-inval-charging-settings     false
	ignore-low-batt-voltage            true
	error-indication-timeout-secs      5
	keep-silence                       false
	ignore-voltage-on-output           true
	min-sense-current-ma               50
	repeat-charge-after-mins           10
	sense-voltage-calib-point1-mv      15023:12554
	sense-voltage-calib-point2-mv      24985:20850
	sense-current-calib-point1-ma       1000:970
	sense-current-calib-point2-ma      10000:9779
	psu-voltage-calib-point1-mv        15000:15000
	psu-voltage-calib-point2-mv        25000:25000
	psu-current-calib-point1-ma         1000:1000
	psu-current-calib-point2-ma         8000:8000

Source has the following parameters:
	psu-type                           RSP-1600-48 (0x02)
	detect-mode                        PLC (0x00)
	psu-fixed-voltage-mv               0
	psu-fixed-current-ma               0
	psu-use-fixed-v-i                  false
	nr-bad-heartbeats                  20
	ignore-inval-charging-settings     false
	ignore-low-batt-voltage            true
	error-indication-timeout-secs      5
	keep-silence                       false
	ignore-voltage-on-output           true
	min-sense-current-ma               50
	repeat-charge-after-mins           10
	sense-voltage-calib-point1-mv      15023:12554
	sense-voltage-calib-point2-mv      24985:20850
	sense-current-calib-point1-ma       1000:970
	sense-current-calib-point2-ma      10000:9779
	psu-voltage-calib-point1-mv        15000:15000
	psu-voltage-calib-point2-mv        25000:25000
	psu-current-calib-point1-ma         1000:1000
	psu-current-calib-point2-ma         8000:8000

Charge Sink configuration

To view the configuration parameters of the Charge Sink, use the following command:

skycharge-cli show-sink-params

Sink has the following parameters:  
	capabilities                       NIL (0x00)  
	batt-type                          Li-Po (0x00)  
	batt-capacity-mah                  5000  
	batt-min-voltage-mv                12000  
	batt-max-voltage-mv                24000  
	charging-max-current-ma            20000  
	cutoff-min-current-ma              500  
	cutoff-timeout-ms                  3000  
	precharge-current-ma               1000  
	precharge-delay-secs               0  
	precharge-secs                     30  
	total-charge-secs                  3600  
	user-uart-config                   115200-8-N-1  
	user-data1                         0x00000000  
	user-data2                         0x00000000  
	user-data3                         0x00000000  
	user-data4                         0x00000000

To modify the Charge Sink parameters, execute the following command:

skycharge-cli set-sin param <key> <value> 

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Attention

Please note that when using the Charge Sink PLC, any modifications made to the parameters using the command skycharge-cli set-sink-param will be permanently applied.

However, with the Charge Sink LIGHT, any changes made to the parameters using the command skycharge-cli set-sink-param will only remain in effect until the next system reboot. To make the changes permanent, it is necessary to adjust the parameters within the Charge Source configuration file.

Charge Sink LIGHT configuration

The Charge Sink LIGHT has no memory nor data transfer capabilities and Its parameters are configured within the Charge Source configuration file located at /etc/skycharge.conf. To make persistent adjustments to the Charge Sink LIGHT parameters, edit the configuration file and restart the Skycharge daemon.

Charge Sink PLC configuration

The Charge Sink PLC features a non-volatile ROM for storing settings. These settings can be adjusted from the Charge Source via the power line (PLC) when the Charge Source is connected to the Charge Sink without any load.