Providing orientation support in receptacles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A receptacle communicatively coupled to a host computing device comprising:
- contacts arranged in a first symmetrical pattern and configured to mate with contacts in a plug arranged in a second symmetrical pattern when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, the contacts of the receptacle including first and second contacts coupled to a voltage source in the host computing device and a first pair of ground contacts coupled to ground in the host computing device, the contacts in the plug including a third contact and a second pair of ground contacts, wherein the plug can be inserted into the receptacle in one of a first orientation and a second orientation 180 degrees of rotation relative to the first orientation, and wherein when the plug is in either of the first orientation and second orientation and inserted into the receptacle the first pair of ground contacts in the receptacle are coupled to the second pair of ground contacts in the plug; and
detection circuitry to determine an orientation of the plug when inserted into the receptacle by detecting whether there is a path to ground for the voltage applied to the first contact and the voltage applied to the second contact,wherein when the plug is in the first orientation there is a path to ground for the voltage applied to the first contact while there is not a path to ground for the voltage applied to the second contact, and wherein when the plug is in the second orientation there is a path to ground for the voltage applied to the second contact while there is not a path to ground for the voltage applied to the first contact.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of receiving a plug at a receptacle is disclosed. The method may include receiving a plug at a receptacle, the receptacle including contacts disposed with a rotational symmetry about a center point of the receptacle. The method may also include determining, via detection circuitry, any orientation of the plug inserted into the receptacle. The method may also include changing, via selection control circuitry, a connection path coupled to the contacts based on the orientation of the plug.
-
Citations
51 Claims
-
1. A receptacle communicatively coupled to a host computing device comprising:
-
contacts arranged in a first symmetrical pattern and configured to mate with contacts in a plug arranged in a second symmetrical pattern when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, the contacts of the receptacle including first and second contacts coupled to a voltage source in the host computing device and a first pair of ground contacts coupled to ground in the host computing device, the contacts in the plug including a third contact and a second pair of ground contacts, wherein the plug can be inserted into the receptacle in one of a first orientation and a second orientation 180 degrees of rotation relative to the first orientation, and wherein when the plug is in either of the first orientation and second orientation and inserted into the receptacle the first pair of ground contacts in the receptacle are coupled to the second pair of ground contacts in the plug; and detection circuitry to determine an orientation of the plug when inserted into the receptacle by detecting whether there is a path to ground for the voltage applied to the first contact and the voltage applied to the second contact, wherein when the plug is in the first orientation there is a path to ground for the voltage applied to the first contact while there is not a path to ground for the voltage applied to the second contact, and wherein when the plug is in the second orientation there is a path to ground for the voltage applied to the second contact while there is not a path to ground for the voltage applied to the first contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method, comprising:
-
receiving a plug at a receptacle in one of a first orientation and a second orientation 180 degrees of rotation relative to the first orientation, wherein the receptacle includes contacts disposed with a rotational symmetry about a center point of the receptacle including first and second contacts and a first pair of ground contacts and the receptacle is communicatively coupled to a host computing device and wherein the plug includes contacts disposed with a rotational symmetry about a center point of the plug including third and fourth contacts and a second pair of ground contacts, wherein when the plug is in either of the first and second orientation and inserted into the receptacle the first pair of ground contacts in the receptacle are coupled to the second pair of ground contacts in the plug; applying, via the host computing device, voltage to each of the first contact and second contacts in the receptacle; grounding the first pair of ground contacts in the receptacle, resulting in the second pair of contacts being grounded in the plug; and determining an orientation of the plug relative to the receptacle by detecting whether there is a path to ground for the voltage applied to the first contact and the voltage applied to the second contact, wherein when the plug is in the first orientation there is a path to ground for the voltage applied to the first contact while there is not a path to ground for the voltage applied to the second contact, and wherein when the plug is in the second orientation there is a path to ground for the voltage applied to the second contact while there is not a path to ground for the voltage applied to the first contact. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A system comprising:
-
a processor; memory, coupled to the processor; a voltage source; an Input/Output (I/O) device interface, coupled to the processor and including, a receptacle having contacts arranged in a first symmetrical pattern and configured to mate with contacts in a plug arranged in a second symmetrical pattern when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, the contacts of the receptacle including first and second contacts coupled to the voltage source and a first pair of ground contacts coupled to ground, the contacts in the plug including a third contact and a second pair of ground contacts, wherein the plug can be inserted into the receptacle in one of a first orientation and a second orientation 180 degrees of rotation relative to the first orientation, and wherein when the plug is in either of the first orientation and second orientation and inserted into the receptacle the first pair of ground contacts in the receptacle are coupled to the second pair of ground contacts in the plug; and detection circuitry to determine an orientation of the plug when inserted into the receptacle by detecting whether there is a path to ground for the voltage applied to the first contact and the voltage applied to the second contact, wherein when the plug is in the first orientation there is a path to ground for the voltage applied to the first contact while there is not a path to ground for the voltage applied to the second contact, and wherein when the plug is in the second orientation there is a path to ground for the voltage applied to the second contact while there is not a path to ground for the voltage applied to the first contact. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A receptacle communicatively coupled to a host computing device comprising:
-
contacts arranged in a first symmetrical pattern and configured to mate with contacts in a plug arranged in a second symmetrical pattern when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, wherein the plug can be inserted into the receptacle in one of a first orientation and a second orientation 180 degrees of rotation relative to the first orientation; detection circuitry to determine an orientation of the plug when inserted into the receptacle, wherein the detection circuitry includes, a first contact of the receptacle coupled to a voltage source in the host computer device via a pull-up resistor; a second contact in the receptacle coupled to ground in the host computer device; and selection control circuitry to change a connection path coupled to the contacts based on the orientation of the plug, wherein the plug includes third and fourth contacts having a resistor coupled therebetween and when the plug is orientated in the first orientation a voltage level at the first contact is at a first voltage level, and wherein when the plug is orientated in the second orientation a voltage level at the first contact is at a second voltage level that is higher than the first voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. A system comprising:
-
a processor; memory, coupled to the processor; a voltage source; an Input/Output (I/O) device interface, coupled to the processor and including a receptacle having contacts disposed with a rotational symmetry about a center point of the receptacle, wherein the contacts receive a plug in one of a first orientation and a second orientation 180 degrees of rotation relative to the first orientation; detection circuitry to determine an orientation of the plug when inserted into the receptacle, wherein the detection circuitry includes, a first contact of the receptacle coupled to the voltage source via a pull-up resistor; and a second contact in the receptacle coupled to ground in the host computer device; and selection control circuitry to change a connection path coupled to the contacts based on the orientation of the plug, wherein the plug includes third and fourth contacts having a resistor coupled therebetween and when the plug is orientated in the first orientation a voltage level at the first contact is at a first voltage level, and wherein when the plug is oriented in the second orientation a voltage level at the first contact is at a second voltage level that is higher than the first voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
-
-
45. A method comprising:
-
receiving a plug at a receptacle in one of a first orientation and a second orientation at a degree of rotation relative to the first orientation, wherein the receptacle includes contacts disposed with a rotational symmetry about a center point of the receptacle including first and second contacts and the receptacle is communicatively coupled to a host computing device and wherein the plug includes contacts disposed with a rotational symmetry about a center point of the plug including third and fourth contacts having a resistor coupled therebetween; applying, via the host computing device, voltage to the first contact of the receptacle, the voltage passing through a pull-up resistor coupled between a voltage source and the first contact; grounding the fourth contact to ground; determining, via detection circuitry, an orientation of the plug received by the receptacle; and changing, via selection control circuitry, a connection path coupled to contacts in the receptacle and in the plug based on the orientation of the plug, wherein, when the plug is in the first orientation the third contact of the plug is coupled to the first contact of the receptacle and the fourth contact of the plug is coupled to ground via the second contact of the receptacle, and wherein the detection circuitry determine whether the plug is in the first orientation by detecting a voltage level at the first contact of the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
-
Specification