Hubless docking station having USB ports

• US 20030084222A1
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wurzburg, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 6,665,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 hub-less docking station for providing additional universal serial bus (USB). In one embodiment, a docking station includes a docking connector and a plurality of USB jacks. The docking connector is configured to allow a portable computer to be coupled to the docking station, while the USB jacks are configured for coupling to USB peripherals. The portable computer includes a USB controller for supporting a plurality of USB ports. Signal pins from the USB controller are coupled to the USB jacks through the docking connector. Power signals and current sense signals are multiplexed by a multiplexer in the portable computer, and are de-multiplexed by a de-multiplexer in the docking station. The de-multiplexed power and current sense signals are provided to the USB jacks. The docking station is thus able to provide a plurality of additional USB ports to the portable computer, when docked, without the use of a USB hub.

Claims

1. A docking station comprising:

A docking connector configured for coupling the docking station to a portable computer;

a plurality of universal serial bus (USB) jacks;

a de-multiplexer, wherein the de-multiplexer is configured to receive a multiplexed power signal from the portable computer, and wherein the de-multiplexer is further configured to provide power signals to each of the plurality of USB jacks via the de-multiplexer output;

a plurality of signal connections each coupled to one of the USB jacks and further coupled to the docking connector; and

wherein the docking station is configured to provide a plurality of USB ports though the USB jacks when the portable computer is coupled to the docking station.

2. The docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable computer includes a USB controller, wherein the USB controller is configured to support a plurality of USB ports.

3. The docking station as recited in claim 2, wherein the USB controller is configured to support the USB 2.0 standard.

4. The docking station as recited in claim 3, wherein the USB controller is further configured to support the USB 1.1 standard.

5. The docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the docking station is further configured to receive a multiplexed current sense signal, and wherein the de-multiplexer is further configured to provide current sense signals to each of the plurality of USB jacks.

6. The docking station as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable computer includes a USB port separate from the plurality of USB ports.

7. A method for providing additional universal serial bus (USB) ports to a portable computer, the method comprising:

providing a docking station, the docking station configured for coupling to a portable computer, wherein the docking station includes a plurality of USB jacks;

providing a portable computer, wherein the portable computer is configured for connecting to the docking station at a docking connector, and wherein the portable computer includes a USB controller, the USB controller configured for supporting a plurality of USB ports;

connecting signal pins from the USB controller to each of the plurality of USB jacks, wherein said connecting is performed by coupling the portable computer to the docking station using the docking connector;

multiplexing a plurality of power signals from the USB controller, wherein said multiplexing is performed by the portable computer; and

de-multiplexing the plurality of power signals from the USB controller, wherein said de-multiplexing is performed by the docking station, and wherein one of each of the plurality of power signals is provided to one of each of the plurality of USB jacks.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising the portable computer multiplexing a plurality of current sense signals and the docking station de-multiplexing the plurality of current sense signals, wherein one of each of the current sense signals is provided to one of each of the plurality of USB jacks.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the USB controller is configured to support the USB 2.0 standard.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the USB controller is configured to support the USB 1.1 standard.

11. A system comprising:

a portable computer, wherein the portable computer includes;

a universal serial bus (USB) controller, wherein the USB controller includes signal pins and power pins for a plurality of USB ports; and

a first multiplexer, wherein inputs to the first multiplexer are coupled to the power pins of the USB controller; and

a docking station, wherein the docking station includes;

a docking connector for coupling the portable computer to the docking station;

a plurality of USB jacks;

a plurality of connectors configured for coupling the each of the signal pins from the portable computer to one of the plurality of USB jacks; and

a first de-multiplexer, wherein the input to the first de-multiplexer is configured to be coupled to the output of the first multiplexer, wherein each of the outputs of the first multiplexer are coupled to one of the plurality of USB jacks.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the docking station is configured to provide a plurality of USB ports when the portable computer is coupled to the docking station.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the portable computer includes a USB port separate from the plurality of USB ports.

14. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the first multiplexer is configured to output a multiplexed power signal, and wherein the first de-multiplexer is configured to receive the multiplexed power signal.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the first de-multiplexer is configured to output a plurality of power signals, wherein each of the plurality of USB jacks is configured to receive one of each of the plurality of power signals.

16. The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising a second multiplexer in the portable computer and a second de-multiplexer in the docking station.

18. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the USB controller is configured to support the USB 2.0 standard.

19. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the USB controller is configured to support the USB 1.1 standard.

17. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the second multiplexer is configured to output a multiplexed current sense signal, and wherein the second de-multiplexer is configured to output a plurality of current sense signals, wherein each of the plurality of USB jacks is configured to receive one of each of the plurality of current sense signals.