TPS25750: Unable to charge iPhone 15

Part Number: TPS25750
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: USB-PD-CHG-EVM-01, , TPS25751

Tool/software:

Hello,

I'm working on a product for a customer that integrates the circuits from the USB-PD-CHG-EVM-01 evaluation module to sink and source power to/from a battery.

Using the TPS25750 customization tool, I set up an EVM (source + sink) configuration, 15W max sourced, 27W max consumed, sink role preferred, no USB data used. This has worked as intended with various wall chargers and smartphones.

The customer has found that our product is not able to charge the iPhone 15 when it is connected to the USB-C port using Apple's charge cable. Note that this is one of the first iPhones to integrate USB-C rather than Lightning.

Has TI encountered this issue? What solution (ideally in software) is recommended?

Thanks,
Clyne

  • Hi Clyne,

    I'm not sure if we have encountered this issue, but the first thing that jumps out is the "sink role preferred" setting. If you set to "sink role preferred", the TPS25750 will send a power role swap message when it is in a source contract. If the far-end device accepts the role swap, the TPS25750 will become the sink and will not charge. Phones typically are Dual Role Power, so it will likely accept the power roles swap sent by the TPS25750.

    I would recommend setting to Source Role Preferred.

    Thanks and Regards,

    Chris

  • What about other Dual Role Power devices? A user could try to charge the product with another USB-C battery pack for example, in which case the TPS25750 will prefer to be a source and fail to charge.

    I'm not sure which scenario is more likely, but I'd like to find a solution that minimizes these possibilities.

  • Hi Clyne,

    That is one of the challenges with USB-C, you do not know what is connected. You should primarily base this setting on the intended application of your product. Typically we see that even DRP devices have a preferred power role.

    Do you intend your device to primarily charge other devices, or to be charged?

    One thing to mention is the successor part, the TPS25751, has the ability to be configured to prefer neither. The TPS25750 does not support this within the GUI.

    Thanks and Regards,

    Chris

  • Hi Chris,

    I'm not sure if changing the choice of preferred power role is the appropriate resolution for this issue.

    Can you or someone at TI specifically test the TPS25750 / USB-PD-CHG-EVM-01 with an iPhone 15 and provide a confirmed solution?

    Thanks,
    Clyne

  • Hi Clyne,

    I'm not sure if changing the choice of preferred power role is the appropriate resolution for this issue.

    Can you provide a USB-C PD log when you see the failure? This setting is likely causing the issue you are seeing. The log will help confirm what is happening.

    I don't know if there is an Iphone15 on hand for test purposes, but please give me a couple days to gather the necessary hardware for testing.

    Thanks and Regards,

    Chris