Adapter and electronic device having the adapter

• US 10,218,115 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2017
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corporation (Wistron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corporation (Wistron Corporation)
• Inventors: Yao, Yi-Wei, Huang, Kuo-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Chung Trans, Xuong M
• Application Number:
  US15/679,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20190058285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2492 multiple contact points
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/516 Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing , hoods
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62 Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6278 comprising a pin snapping into a recess
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/28 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/86 Parallel contacts arranged about a common axis
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

An adapter for connecting to a connector in a first direction is provided. The adapter includes a plurality of signal pins, arranged in a loop, a power pin, configured to transmit a power signal to the connector, and a detection circuit, coupled to the power pin and the plurality of signal pins. A feedback signal is provided by the connector in response to the power signal that is transmitted through one of the plurality of signal pins, and an interface of the connector is identified by the detection circuit and a pin order of the adapter is defined by the detection circuit according to the feedback signal.

Claims

1. An adapter for connecting to a connector in a first direction, comprising:

a power pin configured to transmit a power signal to the connector;

a plurality of signal pins arranged in a loop, each configured to allow a feedback signal provided by the connector to be transmitted through; and

a detection circuit coupled to the power pin and the plurality of signal pins,

including a memory circuit storing a look-up table having a plurality of voltage levels corresponding to different types of interfaces, and configured to

identify a first interface of the connector according to the voltage level of the feedback signal and the plurality of voltage levels of the look-up table; and

define a pin order of the adapter clockwise or counter clockwise from one of the signal pins that receives the feedback signal.

2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the pin order of the adapter is re-defined by the detection circuit when the connector is connected to the adapter in a second direction.

3. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the loop is in a circular shape and the power pin is surrounded by the plurality of signal pins.

4. The adapter according to claim 1, further comprising:

an adapter housing; and

a plurality of ground pins;

wherein the plurality of ground pins and the plurality of signal pins are interleavingly-arranged on one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the adapter housing;

wherein the power pin is arranged at a center of the adapter housing.

5. The adapter according to claim 3, wherein an opening is further defined on the adapter housing, and the plurality of signal pins and the plurality of ground pins are closer to the opening than the power pin is.

6. The adapter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pin order switching circuit coupled to the detection circuit;

wherein the detection circuit controls the pin order switching circuit to switch a first pin connection relationship between the plurality of signal pins and a control circuit for connecting the connector according to the first interface of the connector.

7. The adapter according to claim 6, further comprising:

an interface switching circuit coupled to the pin order switching circuit to switch a second pin connection relationship between the plurality of signal pins and the control circuit;

wherein the detection circuit controls the interface switching circuit for connecting the connector with the adapter according to a second interface of the connector is identified.

8. An adapter for connecting with a connector, comprising:

a plurality of signal pins, each configured to allow a feedback signal provided by the connector to be transmitted through;

a plurality of ground pins;

a plurality of power pins configured to transmit a power signal to the connector; and

a detection circuit coupled to the plurality of power pins and the plurality of signal pins, including a memory circuit storing a look-up table having a plurality of voltage levels corresponding to different types of interfaces, and configured to

identify a first interface of the connector according to the voltage level of the feedback signal and the plurality of voltage levels of the look-up table; and

define a pin order of the adapter clockwise or counter clockwise from one of the signal pins that receives the feedback signal,

wherein the plurality of signal pins, the plurality of ground pins and the plurality of power pins are interleavingly-arranged.

9. The adapter according to claim 8, wherein the adapter further comprises a pin order switching circuit coupled to the detection circuit, wherein the detection circuit controls the pin order switching circuit for connecting the connector with the adapter according to the first interface of the connector.

10. The adapter according to claim 9, further comprising:

an interface switching circuit coupled to the pin order switching circuit and the detection circuit;

wherein the detection circuit controls the interface switching circuit for connecting the connector with the adapter according to a second interface of the connector is identified.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a receptacle adapter configured to receive a corresponding plug connector and having;

a plurality of signal pins arranged in a loop, each configured to allow a feedback signal provided by the connector to be transmitted through; and

a power pin configured to transmit a power signal; and

a detection circuit coupled to the power pin and the plurality of signal pins, wherein a feedback signal provided by the connector according to the power signal is transmitted to one of the plurality of signal pins in response to the corresponding plug connector being accommodated in the receptacle connector;

wherein including a memory circuit storing a look-up table having a plurality of voltage levels corresponding to different types of interfaces, and configured to

identify a first interface of the connector according to the voltage level of the feedback signal and the plurality of voltage levels of the look-up table; and

define a pin order of the adapter clockwise or counter clockwise from one of the signal pins that receives the feedback signal.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, further comprising:

a pin order switching circuit coupled to the detection circuit;

wherein the detection circuit controls the pin order switching circuit to switch a first pin connection relationship between the plurality of signal pins and a control circuit for connecting the connector with the adapter according to the first interface of the connector.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, further comprising:

an interface switching circuit coupled to the pin order switching circuit and the detection circuit;

wherein the detection circuit controls the interface switching circuit to switch a second pin connection relationship between the plurality of signal pins and the control circuit for connecting the connector with the adapter according to a second interface of the connector is identified.