TECHNIQUES FOR MONITORING CONTACTS IN A CONNECTOR
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An accessory comprising:
- a connector having a plurality of contacts, wherein the plurality of contacts include at least one power contact and at least one data contact and wherein the connector is configured to couple the accessory to a host device;
a controller coupled to the connector; and
circuitry coupled to the controller,wherein the controller in conjunction with the circuitry is configured to;
provide a first current at a first voltage at the power contact;
detect change in state of a communication line between the accessory and the host device via the data contact;
in response to the detection, provide the first current at a second voltage at the power contact;
communicate with the host device to authenticate the accessory;
upon successful authentication, provide a second current at the second voltage at the power contact.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for mounting contacts of a connector are provided. One technique involves actively and continuously monitoring contacts being used and the contacts not being used in a connector in order to determine potential dendrite growth and/or potential corrosion due to liquid intrusion or the like. Another technique includes lowering a bias voltage on a power contact and performing a system detect prior to enabling operational voltage/current on the contact.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An accessory comprising:
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a connector having a plurality of contacts, wherein the plurality of contacts include at least one power contact and at least one data contact and wherein the connector is configured to couple the accessory to a host device; a controller coupled to the connector; and circuitry coupled to the controller, wherein the controller in conjunction with the circuitry is configured to; provide a first current at a first voltage at the power contact; detect change in state of a communication line between the accessory and the host device via the data contact; in response to the detection, provide the first current at a second voltage at the power contact; communicate with the host device to authenticate the accessory; upon successful authentication, provide a second current at the second voltage at the power contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An accessory comprising:
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a first connector having a plurality of contacts, wherein the first connector is configured to couple with a corresponding second connector of a host device to provide electrical connection between the accessory and the host device and the plurality of contacts include a power contact and a data contact, wherein the power contact is connected to a power input line of the host device and the data contact is connected with a communication line between the accessory and the host device; circuitry coupled to the connector; and a controller coupled to the first connector and the circuitry and operable to control communications with the host device, wherein the controller in conjunction with the connector and the circuitry is configured to; provide a first current at a first voltage at the power contact; measure an impedance of the communication line using the data contact; determine that the measured impedance is substantially similar to an expected impedance value; in response to the determination, provide the first current at a second voltage at the power contact; communicate with the host device to authenticate the accessory; and upon successful authentication, provide a second current at the second voltage at the power contact. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating an accessory having a connector including a plurality of contacts, the connector configured to couple the accessory to a host device, the method comprising:
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providing, by the accessory, a first current at a first voltage over a first contact from the plurality of contacts; detecting, by the accessory, change in state of a communication line between the accessory and the host device, the change being detected via a second contact from the plurality of contacts; in response to the detection, providing, by the accessory, the first current at a second voltage over the first contact; communicating, by the accessory, with the host device to authenticate the accessory; and upon successful authentication, providing, by the accessory, a second current at the second voltage over the first contact. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for operating an accessory, the method comprising:
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providing, by the accessory, at a first contact of an accessory connector, a first current at a first voltage; measuring, by the accessory, at a second contact of the accessory connector, an impedance, wherein the second contact of the accessory connector is coupled to a communication line between the accessory and a host device coupled to the accessory; determining, by the accessory, that the measured impedance is substantially similar to a reference impedance value; in response to the determination, providing, by the accessory at the first contact, a first current at a second voltage; communicating, by the accessory, with the host device to authenticate the accessory; and providing, by the accessory at the first contact, a second current at the second voltage only if the authentication is successful. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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determining, by an accessory, that a voltage is available to be outputted over a power contact of an accessory connector coupled to the accessory; determining, by the accessory, that a host device is not coupled to the accessory connector; opening, by the accessory, a switch connected to a data contact of the accessory connector thereby grounding the voltage; and preventing, by the accessory, the voltage from appearing on the power contact. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification