Hot plug-and-play converter of a universal serial bus interface

• US 6,131,134 A
• Filed: 07/27/1998
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Ming-Shang, Huang, Yi-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Application Number:
  US09/123,569
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 710/103, 710/102, 710/101, 710/100, 710/129, 710/131, 710/62, 710/63, 710/64, 710/126, 326/37, 326/41, 326/39, 379/93.05
• US Class Current: 710/302
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004

Abstract

A hot plug-and-play (PnP) converter of a universal serial bus (USB) interface that converts a non-PnP interface into a hot PnP USB interface. The converter sends the information related to the converter itself to the connected computer system, and sends the information related to the connected peripheral as well as to the presence of the peripheral to the computer system. Users can handle the connection status of disclosed is a connected peripheral more directly. The converter further instructs the computer system to detect the connection status of a peripheral automatically by changing the connection of the pull-up resistor of the transferring wire on the USB interface.

Claims

1. A hot plug-and-play converter of a universal serial bus interface for converting a peripheral interface into a plug-and-play universal serial bus interface, wherein the peripheral interface is used to connect a peripheral, the converter comprising:

a switch, wherein a first end of the switch is connected to a voltage source;

a resistor for connecting a transferring wire of the universal serial bus interface and a second end of the switch; and

a converting circuit for connecting the universal serial bus interface and the peripheral interface, transferring signals between the universal serial bus interface and the peripheral interface, and sending a controlling signal to control the connection of the first end and the second end of the switch, wherein the controlling signal opens the switch for a period of time and then closes the switch after the peripheral interface is connected to the universal serial bus interface, and the controlling signal opens the switch for a period of time and then closes the switch after the peripheral interface is disconnected from the universal serial bus interface.

2. The converter of claim 1, wherein the converter further comprises a device database connected to the converting circuit for storing information regarding peripherals.

3. The converter of claim 1, wherein the transferring wire detects a high-speed peripheral.

4. The converter of claim 1, wherein the universal serial bus interface further comprises a second transferring wire for detecting a low-speed peripheral.

5. The converter of claim 1, wherein the universal serial bus interface connects to a computer system.

6. A controlling routine of a hot plug-and-play converter of a universal serial bus interface, the routine comprising:

providing a peripheral interface for connecting a peripheral;

providing a hot plug-and-play universal serial bus interface for connecting a computer system, wherein the universal serial bus interface comprises a first transferring wire;

connecting the first transferring wire to a voltage source;

disconnecting the first transferring wire from the voltage source for a period of time, and then connecting the first transferring wire back to the voltage source after the peripheral is connected to the peripheral interface; and

disconnecting the first transferring wire from the voltage source for a period of time, and then connecting the first transferring wire back to the voltage source after the peripheral is disconnected from the peripheral interface.

7. A controlling routine of a hot plug-and-play converter of a universal serial bus interface, the routine comprising:

providing a peripheral interface for connecting a peripheral;

providing a hot plug-and-play universal serial bus interface for connecting a computer system, wherein the universal serial bus interface comprises a first transferring wire;

providing a resistor for connecting the first transferring wire to a voltage source;

performing a first-stage setup to send information related to the converter to the computer system;

checking the connection of the peripheral interface and the peripheral, wherein in the case where the peripheral is not connected to the peripheral interface, the checking continues until the connection of the peripheral and the peripheral interface is found;

determining a type and a model of the peripheral;

disconnecting the resistor from the first transferring wire for a period of time and then connecting the resistor back to the first transferring wire;

performing a second-stage setup to send information related to the peripheral to the computer system;

performing a main loop to check the connection between the peripheral interface and the peripheral;

in the case where the connection doesn'"'"'t exist, disconnecting the resistor from the first transferring wire for a period of time and then connecting the resistor back to the first transferring wire and then performing the first-stage setup;

in the case where the connection exists, sending commands from the computer to the peripheral; and

performing the main loop.

8. A controlling routine of a hot plug-and-play converter of a universal serial bus interface, the routine comprising:

providing a peripheral interface for connecting a peripheral;

providing a hot plug-and-play universal serial bus interface for connecting a computer system, wherein the universal serial bus interface comprises a first transferring wire;

providing a resistor for connecting the first transferring wire to a voltage source;

performing a first detection on the presence of a connection between the peripheral interface and the peripheral;

in the case where the connection doesn'"'"'t exist, performing a first-stage setup to send information related to the converter to the computer system;

performing a second detection to check the connection of the peripheral interface and the peripheral, wherein in the case where the peripheral is not connected to the peripheral interface, checking continues until the connection of the peripheral and the peripheral interface is found;

in the case that either a result of the first detection or a result of the second detection shows the connection, performing;

determination of a type and a model of the peripheral;

a second-stage setup to send information related to the peripheral to the computer system; and

performance of a main loop to check the connection between the peripheral interface and the peripheral;

in the case where the connection doesn'"'"'t exist, disconnecting the resistor from the first transferring wire for a period of time and then connecting the resistor back to the first transferring wire, and then performing the first-stage setup;

in the case where the connection exists, sending commands from the computer to the peripheral; and

performing the main loop.