Systems and Methods for Charging a Chargeable USB Device

• US 20100127864A1
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fundamental Innovation Systems International LLC (Fundamental Innovation Systems International Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Veselic, Dusan
• Granted Patent: US 7,884,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/30 Charge provided using DC bus or data bus of a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for charging a USB device. A USB connector may be used to couple the system to a USB port on the USB device, the USB connector including a bus voltage (Vbus) connector, a positive data (D+) connector, and a negative data (D−) connector. Charger circuitry may be used to receive a source voltage and convert the source voltage into the bus voltage (Vbus), wherein the bus voltage (Vbus) is used to charge the USB device. Presence detect circuitry may be used to compare a first voltage present on the D+ connector with a second voltage present on the D− connector in order to detect when the USB connector is coupled to the USB port of the USB device.

Claims

1. A universal serial bus (USB) device, comprising:

a USB port on the USB device for coupling to a charging system, the USB port including a bus voltage (Vbus) connection, a positive data (D+) connection, and a negative data (D−

) connection;

wherein a bus voltage (Vbus) is used to charge the USB device, and

wherein the USB device is configured to output a first voltage on the D+ connection and a second voltage on the D−

connection wherein both D+ and D−

are in a logic high range, and further configured to vary the first and second voltages when the USB device detects attachment to the charging system.

2. The USB device of claim 1, wherein the USB device is a mobile device, and wherein the bus voltage (Vbus) is used to charge a rechargeable battery in the mobile device.

3. The USB device of claim 1, wherein the USB device receives a device presence signal that indicates whether the USB device is coupled to the charging system, and wherein the device presence signal is used to generate an output on a user interface device.

4. The USB device of claim 3, wherein the user interface device is a light-emitting diode (LED), and wherein the LED is illuminated when the USB device is coupled to the charging system.

5. The USB device of claim 1, wherein the first voltage and the second voltage are varied within the logic high range.

6. The USB device of claim 1, further configured to:

maintain the first voltage at a higher voltage within the logic high range than the second voltage when the USB device is not coupled to charging system; and

when the USB device detects connection to the charging system, the USB device causes a variance in one of the first voltage or the second voltage such that the second voltage is higher than the first voltage within the logic high range.

7. A method for detecting that a USB device is attached to a USB charger, comprising:

generating a first USB data signal having a first voltage;

generating a second USB data signal having a second voltage;

wherein the first voltage and second voltage are both within a voltage range for a high logic state;

comparing the first data signal with the second data signal to detect if the first voltage varies with respect to the second voltage;

wherein the USB device causes the first voltage to vary with respect to the second voltage when the USB device detects it is attached to the USB charger.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

if the first voltage varies with respect to the second voltage, then generating an output on a user interface device indicating that the USB device is attached to the USB charger.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first data signal is generated with a higher voltage than the second data signal, the USB device causes the first voltage to vary with respect to the second voltage when the USB device is attached to the USB charger such that the first voltage falls below the second voltage, and wherein the output on the user interface device is generated if the first voltage falls below the second voltage.

10. A universal serial bus (USB) device, comprising:

means for coupling a USB port on the USB device to a charging system, using a bus voltage (Vbus) connection, a positive data (D+) connection, and a negative data (D−

) connection;

means for receiving the bus voltage (Vbus), wherein the bus voltage (Vbus) is used to charge the USB device; and

means for outputting both D+ and D−

in a logic high state, and varying the first and second voltages to enable use of the Vbus to charge the USB device.