METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING THE TYPE OF INTERFACE TO WHICH A PERIPHERAL DEVICE IS CONNECTED
First Claim
1. A peripheral device connectable to a computer that communicates with the peripheral device through an interface that includes at least two interface conductors and that is either a USB interface or a PS/2 interface, the USB interface having first and second data conductors, that carry first and second data signals, as the two interface conductors, and the PS/2 interface having a timing conductor, that carries a timing signal, and a data conductor, that carries a data signal, as the two interface conductors, the peripheral device comprising:
- first and second peripheral device conductors operably connectable to the interface conductors such that signals can be communicated between the peripheral device and the computer over the interface conductors and the peripheral device conductors;
an interface detector detecting whether the computer has the USB interface or the PS/2 interface by sensing signal levels of signals communicated over at least one of the peripheral device conductors;
a controller communicating with the computer using a USB protocol if the USB interface is detected and using a PS/2 protocol if the PS/2 interface is detected; and
wherein, when the computer includes the USB interface, the first and second data conductors in the computer are coupled to a first voltage potential with first and second resistive elements, respectively, and when the computer includes the PS/2 interface, the data conductor and the timing conductor in the computer are coupled to a second voltage potential by third and fourth resistive elements, respectively, and wherein the interface detector comprises;
a signal detector coupled to the first and second peripheral device conductors to detect signal levels on the first and second peripheral device conductors and provide a connection output to the controller based on the signal levels detected, the connection output indicative of the interface detected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A peripheral device is connectable to a computer having one of a first interface and a second interface. The first interface communicates with the peripheral device over a differential data connection having a first data conductor and a second data conductor. The second interface communicates with the peripheral device over a clock conductor and a single ended data connection which includes a data conductor. The peripheral device has first and second communication conductors configured for connection to the first and second data conductors in the differential data connection when the computer includes the first interface and is configured for connection to the first data conductor in the single ended data connection and the clock conductor when the computer is provided with the second interface. The peripheral device includes an interface detection component coupled to the first and second communication conductors and configured to detect which of the first and second interfaces the peripheral device is connected to. The peripheral device also includes a controller component configured to communicate between the peripheral device according to a protocol corresponding to the detected interface.
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Citations
1 Claim
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1. A peripheral device connectable to a computer that communicates with the peripheral device through an interface that includes at least two interface conductors and that is either a USB interface or a PS/2 interface, the USB interface having first and second data conductors, that carry first and second data signals, as the two interface conductors, and the PS/2 interface having a timing conductor, that carries a timing signal, and a data conductor, that carries a data signal, as the two interface conductors, the peripheral device comprising:
first and second peripheral device conductors operably connectable to the interface conductors such that signals can be communicated between the peripheral device and the computer over the interface conductors and the peripheral device conductors; an interface detector detecting whether the computer has the USB interface or the PS/2 interface by sensing signal levels of signals communicated over at least one of the peripheral device conductors; a controller communicating with the computer using a USB protocol if the USB interface is detected and using a PS/2 protocol if the PS/2 interface is detected; and wherein, when the computer includes the USB interface, the first and second data conductors in the computer are coupled to a first voltage potential with first and second resistive elements, respectively, and when the computer includes the PS/2 interface, the data conductor and the timing conductor in the computer are coupled to a second voltage potential by third and fourth resistive elements, respectively, and wherein the interface detector comprises; a signal detector coupled to the first and second peripheral device conductors to detect signal levels on the first and second peripheral device conductors and provide a connection output to the controller based on the signal levels detected, the connection output indicative of the interface detected.
Specification