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 as the two interface conductors, that carry first and second data signals, and the PS/2 interface having a clock conductor, that carries a clock signal, and a data conductor, that carries a data signal, the clock conductor and the data conductor being 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 first and second peripheral device conductors;
an interface detector configured to detect whether the computer has the USB interface or the PS/2 interface by sensing signals communicated over at least one of the first and second peripheral device conductors; and
a controller configured to communicate with the computer based on which interface is detected by the interface detector.
1 Assignment
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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
15 Claims
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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 as the two interface conductors, that carry first and second data signals, and the PS/2 interface having a clock conductor, that carries a clock signal, and a data conductor, that carries a data signal, the clock conductor and the data conductor being the two interface conductors, the peripheral device comprising:
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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 first and second peripheral device conductors; an interface detector configured to detect whether the computer has the USB interface or the PS/2 interface by sensing signals communicated over at least one of the first and second peripheral device conductors; and a controller configured to communicate with the computer based on which interface is detected by the interface detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method implemented on a peripheral device, comprising:
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monitoring signals on at least one conductor used for communicating between the peripheral device and a computer, the computer being operably connected to the peripheral device, to detect whether the computer comprises an interface and to determine whether the interface is USB interface or a PS/2 interface; and communicating over the at least one conductor based on the interface detected. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer system, comprising:
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a computer that has a peripheral interface that comprises one of a USB interface and a PS/2 interface; and a peripheral device, operably connected to the computer through the peripheral interface, configured to detect which peripheral interface it is connected to based on at least one of two data signals, if the peripheral interface is the USB interface, and based on at least one of a clock signal and a data signal, if the peripheral interface is the PS/2 interface. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification