METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING CONNECTED DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME

• US 20090009187A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KWAK, Dong Hoon
• Granted Patent: US 7,965,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/630
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004

Abstract

A method for identifying connected devices and an electronic device using the method are disclosed. When the connected device is connected to the electronic device, a type of the connected device is identified based on the voltage change according to a change of current flowing in therebetween, and then a corresponding function is performed based on the identified type.

Claims

1. A method for identifying connected devices, the method comprising:

determining whether a device is connected to an electronic device;

detecting, when the device is connected to the electronic device, a voltage change corresponding to a change of current flowing between the connected device and the electronic device; and

identifying a type of the connected device based on the detection result.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a first current path between a power supply of the connected device, a power line connected to the connected device, a recharging circuit connected to the power line, and a power supply unit connected to the recharging circuit; and

establishing a second current path between the recharging circuit, a voltage detecting unit connected to the recharging circuit, a variable resistor connected to the recharging circuit in parallel with the voltage detecting unit, and a device identifying unit connected between the voltage detecting unit and the variable resistor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the detecting of the voltage change comprises:

varying current in the second current path; and

detecting the voltage change of the power supply when the current is changed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the varying of the current comprises:

changing a resistance of the variable resistor; and

changing current flowing in the current path.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the varying of the current comprises linearly increasing the current.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the detecting of the voltage change comprises detecting a time point when the voltage drops according to an increment of current.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the detecting of the voltage change comprises detecting a time point when the voltage drops according to an increment of current.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the identifying of the type of the connected device comprises comparing voltage, at a time point when the voltage is reduced according to an increment of current, with a reference data.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

performing a corresponding function according to the identified type of connected device,

wherein, when the connected device is a re-charger, power is supplied from the connected device to the power supply unit through the recharging circuit.

10. A method for identifying connected devices comprising:

determining whether a device is connected to an electronic device;

checking a time point of a voltage change according to the change of current flowing between the connected device and the electronic device, according to whether a connected device is connected to an electronic device;

detecting a current value at the time point when the voltage is changed;

comparing the detected current value with a second reference data; and

identifying a type of connected device based on the comparison result.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining of whether the device is connected to the electronic device comprises:

varying the current flowing between the connected device and the electronic device; and

detecting the voltage change when the current is changed.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the varying of the current comprises changing a resistance of a variable resistor.

13. An electronic device comprising:

an interface for connecting to a device;

a connected device identifying unit for detecting a voltage change according to a change of current flowing between the electronic device and the device that is connected to the electronic device, and for identifying a type of the device, based on the detection result; and

a controller for controlling the interface and the connected device identifying unit and for performing functions according to the identified type of device.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the interface comprises:

a high voltage line for providing high voltage power;

an ID line for transmitting an identification signal of the device; and

first and second signal lines for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the device.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the connected device identifying unit detects a time point of a voltage change according to a current change in the power that flows therein through the high voltage line.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the connected device identifying unit comprises:

a recharging circuit connected to the high voltage line;

a variable resistor, connected to the recharging circuit, for varying a resistance thereof;

a device identifying unit, connected to the variable resistor, for identifying a type of connected device; and

a voltage detecting unit, connected between the recharging circuit and the device identifying unit, for detecting a voltage of power flowing in the high voltage line.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising:

a resister adjusting unit for adjusting the variable resistor.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising:

a power supply unit connected to the recharging circuit,

wherein the recharging circuit is connected to the variable resistor and serves as a current mirror.

19. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the connected device identifying unit linearly increases the current.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the connected device identifying unit compares a voltage at a time point when the voltage is dropped according to the increment of current with reference data and determines a type of connected device.