USB machine

• US 20020050936A1
• Filed: 09/24/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TEAC Corporation
• Original Assignee: TEAC Corporation
• Inventors: Kato, Tetsuya, Nishimaki, Tatsuo, Sendo, Kazuhiro
• Application Number:
  US09/962,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20020050936A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

A self-powered USB machine. A power control switch 23 is installed in a main power circuit 21 of the USB machine. By detecting whether a voltage occurs at a +5V power terminal of a USB port, the power control switch 23 is turned on or off. A pull-up resistor 17 is connected to a switch 18 in series. And, the pull-up switch 18 is turned on or off after the power control switch 23 is turned on or off. Thereby, the power consumption is reduced.

Claims

1. A self-powered USB machine, comprising

a USB port having signal terminals and power terminals;

a self-powered power terminal;

a control circuit receiving power from the self-powered power terminal or from the power terminals of the USB port, for detecting whether a voltage occurs at the power terminals of the USB port to generate a detected signal, and then outputting a control signal using the detected signal;

a USB power circuit coupled to the self-powered power terminal and the control circuit, for sending out a USB driving voltage in response to the control signal generated from the control circuit that indicates a voltage occurs at the power terminals of the USB port, and for stopping sending out the USB driving voltage in response to the control signal that indicates no voltage occurs at the power terminals of the USB port; and

a USB main entity coupled to the USB power circuit and the signal terminals of the USB port.

2. The self-powered USB machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a series-connected circuit consisting of a pull-up resistor and a pull-up switch for connecting the pull-up resistor, wherein the pull-up resistor is coupled between the signal terminals of the USB port and one of the USB power circuit, the power terminals of the USB port or a pull-up power circuit; and

a pull-up switch delay control circuit used for delaying a predetermined time from a time point of a signal generated to indicate that the USB power circuit sends out the USB driving voltage, thereby the pull-up switch is turned on after the predetermined time.

3. The self-powered USB machine of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary power circuit for driving the control circuit, wherein the auxiliary power circuit is constantly connected to the self-powered power terminal.

4. The self-powered USB machine of claim 2, further comprising an auxiliary power circuit for driving the control circuit, wherein the auxiliary power circuit is constantly connected to the self-powered power terminal.

5. A self-powered USB machine, comprising

a USB port having signal terminals and power terminals;

a self-powered power terminal;

a control circuit receiving power from the self-powered power terminal or from the power terminals of the USB port, for detecting whether a voltage occurs at the power terminals of the USB port to generate a detected signal, and then outputting a control signal using the detected signal;

a USB power circuit coupled to the self-powered power terminal and the control circuit, for sending out a USB driving voltage in response to the control signal that indicates a voltage generated from the control circuit occurs at the power terminals of the USB port, and for stopping sending out the USB driving voltage in response to the control signal that indicates no voltage occurs at the power terminals of the USB port; and

a USB main entity coupled to the USB power circuit and the signal terminals of the USB port;

wherein the USB power circuit comprises a rectifying/smoothing circuit connected to the self-powered power terminal, and a switching regulator connected to the rectifying/smoothing circuit, and the switching regulator has a switching device for voltage regulation;

wherein the control circuit enables a voltage-control operation for the switching device in response to that a voltage occurs at the power terminals of the USB port, and disables the voltage-control operation to turn off the switching device to stop sending out the USB driving voltage in response to that no voltage occurs at the power terminals of the USB port.