Electronic device and method for recognizing accessories

• US 10,204,062 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Won-Wook, Ryu, Ji-Su, Park, Seok-Joon
• Primary Examiner(s): Zaman, Faisal M
• Application Number:
  US15/662,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20180032450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 710 62, 710 15, 710 16, 710 17, 710305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/10 Program control for peripheral devices G06F13/14 - G06F13/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

An electronic device and a method for recognizing accessories that are mounted into a connector of an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a housing that includes a first surface that faces in the first direction and a second surface that faces in the second direction, opposite the first direction, a display that is disposed between the first surface and the second surface and is exposed through the first surface, a power supply unit that applies a voltage, and at least one processor that is electrically connected to the display, wherein: the housing includes a universal serial bus (USB) type-C connector, the connector includes a contact substrate that is electrically connected to the processor to detect the insertion of an accessory, and the power supply unit and the processor are electrically connected to a mid plate that is formed in the contact substrate.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing that includes a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction;

a display that is disposed between the first surface and the second surface, the display being exposed through the first surface;

a power supply that applies a voltage; and

at least one processor that is electrically connected to the display,

wherein the housing includes a connector of universal serial bus (USB) type C,

wherein the connector includes a contact substrate that is electrically connected to the at least one processor to detect an insertion of an accessory,

wherein the power supply and the at least one processor are electrically connected to an electrically conductive mid plate that is formed in the contact substrate, and

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

determine whether the accessory is inserted using the mid plate, and

determine an insertion state of the accessory based on a portion of the voltage applied to the mid plate by the power supply.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to output a connector checking request for at least one of damage to the connector or insertion of foreign matter into the connector when the voltage applied to the mid plate increases after the insertion of the accessory has been detected.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine whether it is possible to communicate with the accessory through a first configuration channel (CC)-pin of the contact substrate when the voltage applied to the mid plate decreases after the insertion of the accessory has been detected.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to apply power to the accessory through a second CC-pin of the contact substrate to identify usage of the accessory if it is determined that it is possible to communicate with the accessory.

5. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to output a connector checking request if it is determined that it is impossible to communicate with the accessory.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to output the connector checking request on the display.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the connector checking request includes:

a request for checking at least one of the insertion state of the accessory, foreign matter in the connector, or breakage of the connector, or

a request for attaching or removing the accessory.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the mid plate is formed in the contact substrate, and capacitors are connected to both ends of an outer metal part of the connector, respectively.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit device that includes;

two capacitors that are formed at both ends of the outer metal part of the connector, respectively,

two resistors that prevent leakage current based on power applied from the accessory, and that adjust the current, and

a single diode that is formed at an end of the power supply.

10. A method for recognizing an accessory of an electronic device, the method comprising:

applying power to an electrically conductive mid plate in a connector that is formed on a housing of the electronic device;

detecting an insertion of an accessory into the connector;

determining whether the accessory is inserted by using the mid plate, the mid plate being formed in a contact substrate in the connector; and

determining an insertion state of the accessory based on a portion of a voltage applied to the mid plate.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

outputting a connector checking request for checking at least one of damage to the connector or insertion of foreign matter into the connector when the voltage applied to the mid plate increases after the insertion of the accessory has been detected.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

determining whether it is possible to communicate with the accessory through a first configuration channel (CC)-pin of the contact substrate when the voltage applied to the mid plate decreases after the insertion of the accessory has been detected.

13. The method according to claim 12,

wherein, if it is determined that it is possible to communicate with the accessory, determining if communication with the accessory using the CC-pin is possible, and

wherein, if it is determined that it is possible to communicate with the accessory using the CC-pin, performing the communication with the accessory by using the CC-pin.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

identifying usage of the accessory by using a VBUS-pin of the contact substrate when the accessory cannot be recognized through normal communication because of an error in the accessory even though it is possible to communicate with the accessory.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

outputting the connector checking request if it is determined that it is impossible to communicate with the accessory.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

outputting the connector checking request on a display.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the connector checking request includes:

a request for checking at least one of the insertion state of the accessory, foreign matter in the connector, or breakage of the connector, or

a request for attaching or removing the accessory.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores a program including instructions for recognizing an accessory of an electronic device, the instructions comprising:

a first set of instructions for applying power to an electrically conductive mid plate in a connector that is formed on a housing of the electronic device;

a second set of instructions for detecting an insertion of an accessory into the connector;

a third set of instructions for determining whether the accessory is inserted by using the mid plate that is formed in a contact substrate in the connector; and

a fourth set of instructions for determining the insertion state of the accessory based on a portion of a voltage applied to the mid plate.