Dual Mode USB and Serial Console Port

• US 20140244869A1
• Filed: 02/22/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Adrian, Jason D., Mundt, Kevin W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,183,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4286 using a handshaking protocol, e.g. RS232C link
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0002 Serial port, e.g. RS232C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]

Abstract

An information handling system includes a service connector operable to receive an RS-232 signal and a USB signal. The service connector is a USB type connector. The information handling system also includes a voltage converter operable to convert the RS-232 signal from a first voltage level to a first serial signal at a second voltage level when a signal received by the service connector is the RS-232 signal, a protocol converter operable to convert the USB signal to a second serial signal at the second voltage level when the signal received by the service connector is the USB signal, and a UART operable to receive the first serial signal and the second serial signal.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a service connector operable to receive an RS-232 signal and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) signal, wherein the service connector comprises a USB type connector;

a voltage converter operable to convert the RS-232 signal from a first voltage level to a first serial signal at a second voltage level when a signal received by the service connector is the RS-232 signal;

a protocol converter operable to convert the USB signal to a second serial signal at the second voltage level when the signal received by the service connector is the USB signal; and

a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) operable to receive the first serial signal and the second serial signal.

2. The information handling system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first multiplexer operable to provide the RS-232 signal to the voltage converter when the signal received by the service connector is the RS-232 signal, and to provide the USB signal to the protocol converter when the signal received by the service connector is the USB signal; and

a second multiplexer operable to provide the first serial signal to the UART when the signal received by the service connector is the RS-232 signal, and to provide the second serial signal to the UART when the signal received by the service connector is the USB signal.

3. The information handling system of claim 2, wherein the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer are in a default state when the signal received by the service connector is the RS-232 signal, and are in a selected state when the signal received by the service connector is the USB signal.

4. The information handling system of claim 3, wherein:

the selection of the default state of the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer is based upon the absence of a voltage on a VBUS pin of the service connector when a USB connector is connected to the service connector; and

the selection of the selected state of the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer is based upon the presence of the voltage on the VBUS pin of the service connector when the USB connector is connected to the service connector.

5. The information handling system of claim 4, further comprising:

an indicator that is unlit when the voltage is absent, and is lit when the voltage is present.

6. The information handling system of claim 5, wherein the indicator provides an indication that the service connector is not a standard USB connection the indicator is lit.

7. The information handling system of claim 1, further comprising:

a chipset component that includes the UART; and

a control console module connected to the chipset component, and operable to communicate with a management system via the service connector.

8. The information handling system of claim 1, further comprising:

an indicator that is unlit when the UART does not receive the first serial signal and the second serial signal are absent and that is lit when the UART receives the first serial signal or the second serial signal.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, at a service connector of an information handling system, a first signal, wherein the service connector comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) type connector;

determining that the first signal is an RS-232 signal;

in response to determining that the first signal is an RS-232 signal;

providing the RS-232 signal to a voltage converter operable to convert the RS-232 signal from a first voltage level to a second signal at a second voltage level; and

providing the second signal to a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART); and

in response to determining that the first signal is a USB signal;

providing the USB signal to a protocol converter operable to convert the USB signal to a third signal at the second voltage level; and

providing the third signal to the UART.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in further response to determining that the first signal is the RS-232 signal;

providing the RS-232 signal to the voltage converter via a first port of a first multiplexer; and

providing the second signal to the UART via a first port of a second multiplexer; and

in further response to determining that the first signal is the USB signal;

providing the USB signal to the voltage converter via a second port of the first multiplexer; and

providing the third signal to the UART via a second port of the second multiplexer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

setting the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer into a default state in further response to determining that the first signal is the RS-232 signal; and

setting the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer into a selected state in further response to determining that the first signal is the USB signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

determining that a VBUS pin of the service connector does not provide a voltage level;

selecting of the default state of the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer in response to determining that the VBUS pin does not provide the voltage level;

determining that the VBUS pin provides the voltage level; and

selecting of the selected state of the first multiplexer and the second multiplexer in response to determining that the VBUS pin provides the voltage level.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing an indication when the VBUS pin provides the voltage level.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the indicator provides an indication that the service connector is not a standard USB connection the indication is provided.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing, from the UART second signal and the third signal to a control console module of the information handling system; and

communicating between the control console module and a management system via the service connector.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing an indication when the UART receives the second signal or the third signal.

17. An information handling system comprising:

a service connector operable to receive an RS-232 signal and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) signal, wherein the service connector comprises a USB type connector;

a voltage converter operable to convert the RS-232 signal from a first voltage level to a serial signal at a second voltage level when a signal received by the service connector is the RS-232 signal;

a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) operable to receive the serial signal; and

an indicator that is unlit when a VBUS pin of the service connector does not provide a voltage level and that is lit when the VBUS pin provides the voltage level.

18. The information handling system of claim 17, wherein the indicator provides an indication that the service connector is not a standard USB connection when the indicator is lit.

19. The information handling system of claim 17, further comprising:

a chipset component that includes the UART; and

a control console module connected to the chipset component, and operable to communicate with a management system via the service connector.

20. The information handling system of claim 17, further comprising:

an indicator that is unlit when the UART does not receive the serial signal and that is lit when the UART receives the serial signal.