Electronic device and cable and method of driving the same

• US 10,200,084 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jang, Wonseok, Cha, Jaedeok, Kim, Sangju
• Primary Examiner(s): Tadese, Berhanu
• Application Number:
  US15/600,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20170353215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/18 Monitoring during normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/19 Self-testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/46 Monitoring; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/548 the power on the line being DC arrangements for feeding power H04L12/10; extracting feeding power from signals H04L25/02

Abstract

An electronic device, a cable, and a method of driving the same are provided. The cable that transmits data and power includes a notification device comprising notification circuitry configured to output a notification when the power is transmitted, a first connector positioned at one end of the cable, a second connector positioned at an other end of the cable, a wire connecting the first and second connectors and including a data line that transmits the data and a power line that transmits the power, and a cable controller connected to the power line and configured to identify a characteristic of power transmitted through the power line and to change a form of the notification output from the notification device based on the identified power characteristic.

Claims

1. A cable configured to transmit data and power, the cable comprising:

a notification device comprising notification circuitry configured to output a notification, when the power is transmitted;

a first connector positioned at one end of the cable;

a second connector positioned at another end of the cable;

a wire structure connecting the first and second connectors and comprising a data line configured to transmit the data and a power line configured to transmit the power; and

a cable controller connected to the power line and configured to identify a characteristic of power transmitted through the power line and to change a form of the notification output from the notification device based on the identified power characteristic,

wherein the characteristic of power includes a direction of a current transmitted through the power line, the direction of the current including a first direction that moves from the first connector to the second connector, and a second direction that moves from the second connector to the first connector;

wherein the first connector is configured to output a predetermined color and change brightness based on magnitude of voltage, and

wherein the second connector is configured to output another predetermined color and change brightness based on magnitude of voltage.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein the cable controller is configured to identify a magnitude of a voltage, a magnitude of a current, and the direction of the current transmitted through the power line and to output a driving signal for driving the notification device based on the identified result.

3. The cable of claim 2, wherein the cable controller comprises:

a sensing unit comprising sensing circuitry configured to sense a both-end voltage at a specific segment of the power line;

a controller configured to compare magnitudes of the both-end voltage and to output a comparison result; and

a driver comprising driving circuitry and configured to determine at least one condition that drives the notification device based on the comparison result and to output the driving signal based on the determined condition.

4. The cable of claim 3, wherein the notification device comprises a light emitting line positioned substantially parallel to the data line or the power line and configured to output light in response to the driving signal.

5. The cable of claim 4, wherein the light emitting line comprises a single line or a plurality of lines configured to output light of a plurality of colors and to output light of a color corresponding to the driving signal.

6. The cable of claim 3, wherein the notification device comprises at least one Light Emitting Diode (LED) positioned at least one of the first and second connectors and that is configured to output light in response to the driving signal.

7. The cable of claim 6, wherein the at least one LED comprises a single LED element or a plurality of LED elements configured to output light of a plurality of colors and to output light of a color corresponding to the driving signal.

8. The cable of claim 3, wherein the notification device comprises at least one LED positioned at each of the first and second connectors and is configured to output light in response to the driving signal.

9. The cable of claim 8, wherein the at least one LED comprises a single LED element or a plurality of LED elements configured to output light of a plurality of colors and to output light of a color corresponding to the driving signal.

10. The cable of claim 3, wherein the at least one condition that drives the notification device comprises a single condition or a plurality of conditions comprising at least one of:

a color of light, brightness of light, a lighting position, whether light is flickered, and a flickering speed.

11. The cable of claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises a single connector or a plurality of connectors, and

the second connector comprises a single connector or a plurality of connectors.

12. A method of driving a cable that transmits data and power, the method comprising:

connecting the cable to a power line that transmits power;

identifying a characteristic of power transmitted through the power line; and

driving a notification device based on the identified power characteristic,

wherein the characteristic of power includes a direction of a current transmitted through the power line, the direction of the current including a first direction from the first connector to the second connector and a second direction from the second connector to the first connector;

wherein the first connector outputs a predetermined color and changes brightness based on magnitude of voltage, and

wherein the second connector outputs another predetermined color and changes brightness based on magnitude of voltage.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying a characteristic of power transmitted through the power line comprises identifying a magnitude of a voltage, a magnitude of a current, and a direction of a current transmitted through the power line.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein driving a notification device based on the identified power characteristic comprises outputting a driving signal that drives the notification device based on the identified result.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying a characteristic of power transmitted through the power line comprises:

sensing a both-end voltage at a specific segment of the power line;

comparing magnitudes of the both-end voltage;

outputting a comparison result; and

determining at least one condition that drives the notification device based on the comparison result and outputting the driving signal based on the determined condition.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the notification device comprises a light emitting line positioned substantially parallel to the power line and configured to output light in response to the driving signal.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the notification device comprises at least one Light Emitting Diode (LED) positioned in at least one of a first connector positioned at one end of the cable and a second connector positioned at another end of the cable and configured to output light in response to the driving signal.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one condition that drives the notification device comprises a condition including at least one of:

a color of light, brightness of light, a lighting position, whether light is flickered, and a flickering speed.

19. An electronic device, comprising:

an input and output interface circuit comprising

a port configured to be connected to a cable comprising a data line that transmits data and a power line that transmits power; and

a processor configured to control the input and output interface circuit,

wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the cable is connected to the port, to execute an application program that provides a user interface, if the cable is connected to the port, to receive an input through the user interface, to transmit or receive power through the power line, and to control a notification device provided in the cable to output a notification based on a characteristic of power transmitted or received through the power line,

wherein the characteristic of power includes a direction of a current transmitted through the power line, the direction of the current including a first direction from a first connector to a second connector and a second direction from the second connector to the first connector;

wherein the first connector is configured to output a predetermined color and change brightness based on magnitude of voltage, and

wherein the second connector is configured to output another predetermined color and change brightness based on magnitude of voltage.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to identify a magnitude of a voltage, a magnitude of a current, and the direction of the current transmitted through the power line and to change a notification output from the notification device based on an identified result.