Cable or module identification apparatus and method

• US 6,934,561 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2001
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burrus, Philip H. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/961,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/420, 455/550.1, 455/559, 455572-573, 307/112, 307/125, 320106-110, 320/112, 320/125, 324/66
• US Class Current: 455/559
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4221 with battery type recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

This invention includes a universal base unit having a plurality of cables, each corresponding to a unique electronic host device. The cable includes a capacitor having a value corresponding to a particular electronic host device. The capacitor is coupled in series with a resistor to ground in the universal base unit. The cable further includes a unique mating connector for coupling to the electronic host device. The universal base unit identifies the cable by actuating a step function across the capacitor-resistor network, causing an exponentially decaying waveform. A microprocessor in the host device then measures the width of the waveform to determine the identity of the cable or host device. The system allows a user to carry a single power supply or universal base unit with multiple cables as opposed to having to transport a different accessory for each electronic device.

Claims

1. An intelligent accessory system for identifying a particular electronic device, the system comprising:

a. a universal base unit having a control circuit, the control circuit having at least one input and at least one output, the universal base unit further comprising a resistor electrically coupled to the at least one input; and

b. an interface device having both a first connector capable of mechanically and electrically coupling to the universal base unit and a second connector capable of mechanically and electrically coupling to at least one first electronic device, the interface device further comprising a capacitor with a value predetermined to correspond to the at least one first electronic device;

further comprising a comparator electrically coupled in series between the resistor and the control circuit;

wherein when the interface device is coupled to the universal base unit the capacitor and the resistor are electrically coupled in series;

further wherein to identify the at least one first electronic device, the control circuit applies a voltage to the capacitor and measures an exponential voltage decay across the resistor.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a protection circuit disposed within the interface device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein when the at least one first electronic device is identified, the control circuit configures the universal base unit to accommodate the at least one first electronic device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the control unit further comprises a means of correlating a predetermined capacitor value to one of a plurality of electronic devices.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the universal base unit further comprises a power conversion circuit.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the power conversion circuit is selected from the group consisting of fly back regulator, a step-down, or “

buck”

, regulator, a step-up regulator, a buck-boost regulator, and a resonant regulator.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the capacitor is disposed on an integrated circuit semiconductor substrate.

8. A universal accessory system, the system comprising:

a. a control circuit;

b. a resistance means for providing a resistance value, the resistance means comprising two terminals;

c. an identification capacitor disposed within an interface means capable of being electrically coupled to the resistance means, the capacitor corresponding to at least one electronic device, the capacitor, when coupled to the resistor, having a characteristic time constant related to the first electronic device; and

;

d. the control circuit further comprising;

i. a switch capable of applying a step function voltage across the identification capacitor;

ii. means for periodically measuring the voltage across the resistance means;

iii. means for computing the time elapsed during an exponential decay of the voltage across the resistance means; and

iv. means for converting the measured stabilizing time to a predetermined identifiable electronic device usage.

9. A method for identifying an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a universal base unit having a microprocessor, a resistance means coupled electrically to the microprocessor, the universal base unit further comprising a universal connector;

b. providing an interface means having a capacitor corresponding to a first electronic device, the interface means further comprising a universal mating connector and a connector of accommodating the first electronic device;

c. coupling the interface means to the universal base unit;

d. closing a switch to apply a step-function voltage across the capacitor;

e. sensing an exponential voltage decay across the resistor;

f. calculating a time corresponding to the exponential voltage decay across the resistor;

g. associating a set of accommodating parameters associated with the first electronic device based upon the time corresponding to the exponential voltage decay across the resistor.