METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING EXTERNAL CONNECTION DEVICE IN MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20090228614A1
• Filed: 03/09/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ueran Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hwang, Jeong Ho
• Granted Patent: US 8,402,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining an external connection device connected to a portable terminal. A multi-connector, and a charging cable and a data cable having the same are disclosed. According to the method, a logic level of the external connection device is determined when the external connection device is connected to the portable terminal. The external connection device is distinguished according to the logic level and performing control corresponding to the external connection device.

Claims

1. A method of determining an external connection device in a portable terminal, comprising:

determining a logic level of the external connection device when the external connection device is connected to the portable terminal;

distinguishing the external connection device according to the logic level; and

performing a control that corresponds to the external connection device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the logic level comprises:

applying a high signal of a preset voltage to a first signal line connected to the external connection device;

detecting a signal applied to a second signal line connected to the external connection device;

setting the logic level to a logic high when a high signal of a preset voltage is detected from the second signal line; and

setting the logic level to a logic low when a low signal of a preset voltage is detected from the second signal line.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

recognizing the external connection device as a terminal adaptor when the logic level is the logic high; and

recognizing the external connection device as an external device when the logic level is the logic low.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising breaking an input from the first signal line and the second signal line when the logic level is the logic low.

5. A method of determining an external connection device in a portable terminal, comprising:

detecting a logic level from a signal line of the external connection device when the external connection device is connected to the portable terminal, and outputting the detected logic level;

determining the logic level;

recognizing the external connection device as a terminal adaptor when the logic level has one value; and

recognizing the external connection device as an external device when the logic level has other value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determination of the logic level comprises:

applying a high signal of a preset voltage to a first signal line connected to the external connection device;

detecting a signal applied to a second signal line connected to the external connection device;

setting the logic level to the one value when the logic high signal of the preset voltage is detected from the second signal line; and

setting the logic level to the other value when the logic low signal of the preset voltage is detected from the second signal line.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising cutting off a connection path to the first signal line and the second signal line when the logic level is the other value.

8. A portable terminal connectable to an external connection device, comprising:

an external connection interface to which the external connection device connects;

a detector to detect a signal from the external connection device and to output a logic level acquired from the detected signal; and

a control unit to control the external connection interface and the detector, to determine a kind of the external connection device from the logic level, and to control a signal processing with respect to the external connection device.

9. The portable terminal of claim 8, wherein the external connection interface applies a pull-up voltage to at least one of a first signal line and a second signal line, the external connection interface for signal transmission and reception with the external connection device.

10. The portable terminal of claim 9, wherein the detector acquires the logic level from the other signal line, the other signal line being different from the signal line to which the pull-up voltage is applied.

11. The portable terminal of claim 10, wherein the detector outputs the logic level as one value when it detects the pull-up voltage from the other signal line, and outputs the logic level as other value when it fails to detect the pull-up voltage from the other signal line.

12. The portable terminal of claim 11, wherein the control unit recognizes the external connection device as a terminal adaptor when the one value is applied from the detector, and recognizes the external connection device as an external device when the other value is applied from the detector.

13. The portable terminal of claim 12, wherein the control unit comprises a determining unit to distinguish the external connection device according to the logic level.

14. The portable terminal of claim 13, wherein the determining unit comprises one of a General Purpose In/Out (GPIO) or a detection pin.

15. The portable terminal of claim 9, wherein the first signal line and the second signal line are shorted to each other when the external connection device is a terminal adaptor.

16. The portable terminal of claim 11, wherein the detector comprises:

a switch to switch on and off paths to the first signal line and the second signal line of the external connection interface; and

a resistor to apply a pull-up voltage for the control of the switching on and off the switch.

17. The portable terminal of claim 16, wherein the pull-up voltage has a value of low until a data communication with the external connection device is started, and the switch connects a path between the detector and the first signal line and the second signal line of the external connection interface when the pull-up voltage is low.

18. The portable terminal of claim 16, wherein the pull-up voltage has a value of high during a data communication with the external connection device, and the switch cuts off a path between the detector and the first line and the second line of the external connection interface when the pull-up voltage is high.

19. The portable terminal of claim 12, wherein the control unit determines a kind of the external device according to a change of a voltage applied to the first signal line and the second signal line.

20. The portable terminal of claim 19, wherein the control unit compares a preset reference data with the voltage change to determine a kind of the connected external device.

21. The portable terminal of claim 8, further comprising a memory storing an application for determining the external connection device, and reference data on the external connection device.