AUDIO SYSTEM, AND USB/UART COMMON COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR THE SAME

• US 20070180170A1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telechips Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Telechips Incorporated
• Inventors: CHOI, Jae-Soon, YOON, Hee-Jun
• Granted Patent: US 7,743,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/74
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]

Abstract

An audio system sets a signal line path between the medium of an audio device and an external device and uploads a digital audio file from the external device to the audio device according to a user'"'"'s manipulation of the audio. In addition, a communication system selectively uses USB and UART communications by commonly using a single USB connector and connects a connector of an external device and an audio/USB/UART common connector through a single cable, so that audio/USB or audio/UART signals are selectively outputted through a common audio signal line. Accordingly, the audio system can interface with various kinds of external devices without external modification or additional installation of a dedicated interface in the audio device with a USB connector. In addition, the USB/UART common communication system can commonly use the USB connector without regard to USB and UART connection signals and can selectively output the audio/USB or audio/UART signals through the single cable in the audio device.

Claims

1. An audio system with an external device, comprising:

an adapter having an external device connector at one terminal and a USB connector at another terminal to provide a signal connection therebetween, the external device connector being provided for connection to an external device; and

an audio device including;

a USB connector for providing an interface to an external device directly connected thereto or an external device connected through the adapter;

a multiplexer for selecting one of a USB signal line and a serial signal line as a signal path with respect to the USB connector according to a select control signal;

a USB controller connected to the external device through a USB communication during a path setting of the USB signal line and decoding a digital audio file received from the external device to thereby output a sound;

a serial controller connected to the external device through the adapter during a path setting of the serial signal line and receiving song information through a serial communication so as to provide the external device with a device control signal based on a user'"'"'s manipulation; and

an audio controller for providing the multiplexer with the select control signal according to device identification when the external device is connected through the USB connector,

wherein the audio controller provides the digital audio file from the external device through the USB controller when the external device is a USB device, and receives the song information from the external device through the serial controller and provides the device control signal to the external device when the external device is not the USB device, so that the external device is driven according to the device control signal.

2. The audio system according to claim 1,

wherein the audio controller performs USB communication or serial communication when the external device is connected to the USB connector, and sets a signal path by determining whether the external device is the USB device.

4. The audio system according to claim 1,

wherein the serial communication is a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART).

5. The audio system according to claim 4,

wherein the adapter transmits and receives a UART signal to the USB connector through a signal line connection of an expanded external connector and the USB connector, so that the signal connection is provided between an external device having an expansion connector and an audio device having the USB connector.

3. An audio system with an external device, comprising:

an adapter having an external device connector at one terminal and a USB connector at another terminal to provide a signal connection therebetween, the external device connector being provided for connection to an external device; and

an audio device including;

a USB connector for providing an interface to an external device directly connected thereto or an external device connected through the adapter;

a USB controller connected to the external device through a USB communication during a path setting of the USB connector and the USB signal line and decoding a digital audio file received from the external device to thereby output a sound;

a serial controller connected to the external device through the adapter during a path setting of the USB connector and the serial signal line and receiving song information through a serial communication so as to provide the external device with a device control signal based on a user'"'"'s manipulation; and

an audio controller for setting a path of the USB or serial signal line, based on identification of the external device, according to the USB or serial communication result when the external device is connected through the USB connector,

wherein the audio controller provides the digital audio file from the external device through the USB controller when the external device is a USB device, and receives the song information from the external device through the serial controller and provides the device control signal to the external device when the external device is not the USB device, so that the external device is driven according to the device control signal.

6. A USB/UART common communication system comprising:

a connector for providing an interface to an external device, which connector having signal lines (D+_RXD, D−

_TXD);

an analog switch for selecting one of UART data signal lines (UART_TXD, UART_RXD) and USB data signal lines (USB_HD+, USB_HD−

) with respect to the signal lines (D+_RXD, D−

_TXD) of the connector according to the select control signal; and

a system controller for setting the UART data signal lines as GPIO ports, reading signal levels of the UART data signal lines, and detecting whether the connector is connected to the UART or the USB according to the reading result,

wherein when the UART connection signal is detected, the system controller sets the UART data signal lines as the UART ports, connects the UART data signal lines and the connector signal lines according to the select control signal, performs a UART communication; and

when the USB connection signal is detected, the system controller connects the USB data signal lines and the connector signal lines through the analog switch and then performs a USB communication.

7. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 6,

wherein when the D+_RXD signal line is HIGH and the D−

_TXD signal line is LOW, it is determined that the USB is connected to the connector.

8. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 6,

wherein when the D−

_TXD signal line is HIGH and the D+_RXD signal line is LOW, it is determined that the UART is connected to the connector.

9. A USB/UART common communication system comprising:

a connector for providing an interface to an external device, the connector having first signal line ports (GPIO_TXD, GPIO_USB_HD+) and second signal line ports (GPIO_RXD, GPIO_USB_HD−

) connected to signal line data (D+, D−

); and

a system controller for setting the first and second signal line ports as GPIO ports, reading signal levels of the UART data signal lines, and detecting whether the connector is connected to the UART or the USB according to the reading result,

wherein when the UART connection signal is detected, the system controller sets the WART signal line ports (GPIO_TXD, GPIO_RXD) as UART ports and performs a UART communication; and

when the USB connection signal is detected, the system controller sets the USB signal line ports (GPIO_USB_HD+, GPIO_USB_HD−

) as USB ports and then performs a USB communication.

10. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 9,

wherein when the second signal line port (GPIO_RXD) is HIGH and the first signal line port (GPIO_TXD) is LOW, it is determined that the UART is connected to the connector.

11. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 9,

wherein when the first signal line port (GPIO_TXD) is HIGH and the second signal line port (GPIO_RXD) is LOW, it is determined that the USB is connected to the connector.

12. A USB/UART common communication system comprising:

a connector for providing an interface to an external device, which connector having signal lines (D+_RXD, D−

_TXD);

an analog switch for selecting one of GPIO detection signal lines (GPIO_A, GPIO_B), UART data signal lines (UART_TXD, UART_RXD), and USB data signal lines (USB_HD+, USB_HD−

) with respect to the connector signal lines (D+_RXD, D−

_TXD) according to a select control signal; and

a system controller for reading signal levels of the connector signal lines, and for detecting whether the connector is connected to the UART or the USB according to the reading result,

wherein when the UART connection signal is detected, the system controller connects the UART data signal lines and the connector signal lines according to the select control signal and then performs a UART communication; and

when the USB connection signal is detected, the system controller connects the USB data signal lines and the connector signal lines through the analog switch and then performs a USB communication.

13. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 12,

wherein when the GPIO detection signal line (GPIO_B) is HIGH and the GPIO detection signal line (GPIO_A) is LOW, it is determined that the UART is connected to the connector.

14. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 12,

wherein when the GPIO detection signal line (GPIO_A) is HIGH and the GPIO detection signal line (GPIO_B) is LOW, it is determined that the USB is connected to the connector.

15. A USB/UART common communication system comprising:

an external device connector connected to an external device to provide an audio interface;

a connector body for commonly connecting an audio signal and a USB/UART signal;

a communication cable for connecting the audio signal and the USB/UART signal between the external device connector and the connector body; and

an audio device connected to the connector body to selectively receive audio/USB or audio/UART signal.

16. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 15,

wherein the connector body includes an audio jack and a single USB/UART connector, and the audio device includes an audio jack connector corresponding to the audio jack, and a USB/UART connector corresponding to the USB/UART connector.

17. A USB/UART common communication system comprising:

an external device connector connected to an external device to provide an audio interface;

a connector body for commonly connecting an audio signal and a USB/UART signal, the connector body having an audio jack and a single USB/UART connector; and

a communication cable for connecting the audio signal and the USB/UART signal between the external device connector and the connector body.