Peripheral device having an extended USB plug for communicating with a host computer

• US 7,186,147 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Super Talent Technology, Corporation
• Original Assignee: Super Talent Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Edward W., Chou, Horng-Yee, Chiou, Ren-Kang
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/939,051
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 439/660, 439/362, 439/535, 710/301, 710/300, 710/37, 710/74, 361/685, 235/492
• US Class Current: 439/660
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07733 the record carrier containing at least one further contact interface not conform ISO-7816
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts

Abstract

A peripheral device having a device processor, a multi-personality bus switch, and an extended Universal-Serial Bus (USB) plug is disclosed. The peripheral device is capable of communicating with a host computer using one or more protocols. The extended Universal-Serial Bus (USB) plug includes an extended pin substrate, the extended pin substrate and at least some of a plurality of contacts thereon being dimensioned to be mechanically compatible with an industry-standard USB socket. The extended USB plug further lacks an industry-standard cover associated with an industry-standard USB plug, thereby causing the extended USB plug to be thinner than the industry-standard USB plug.

Claims

1. A peripheral device, comprising:

a device processor;

a set of protocol processors having at least a first protocol processor, said set of protocol processors being operatively coupled to communicate with said device processor, said first protocol processor being configured to process a first protocol; and

an extended Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug configured to be pluggable into an industry-standard Series A USB socket, said extended USB plug also being configured to facilitate communication between said device processor and a host computer configured to be detachably coupled with said extended USB plug, said extended USB plug lacking an industry-standard Series A USB cover associated with an industry-standard Series A USB plug,

said extended USB plug including

an extended pin substrate having an extended substrate length longer than a length of a pin substrate of said industry-standard Series A USB plug, said length of said pin substrate of said industry-standard Series A USB plug being about 12 mm;

a plurality of USB plug contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a first plug row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB plug, said plurality of USB plug contacts being configured to carry USB signals; and

a plurality of non-USB plug contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a second plug row parallel to said first plug row, said plurality of non-USB plug contacts being configured to carry non-USB signals;

wherein said extended USB plug is configured to detachably couple with said industry-standard Series A USB socket and an extended USB socket alternatively, said extended USB socket including an extended cavity having an extended cavity length longer than a length of a cavity of said industry-standard Series A USB socket, said length of said cavity of said industry-standard Series A USB socket being about 9 mm, and a plurality of USB socket contacts arranged in a first socket row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB socket, said plurality of USB socket contacts being disposed in said cavity and configured to carry said USB signals, and a plurality of non-USB socket contacts arranged in a second socket row parallel to said first socket row, said plurality of non-USB socket contacts being configured to carry said non-USB signals and wherein said plurality of non-USB plug contacts being disposed on an opposite substrate side of said extended pin substrate relative to said plurality of USB plug contacts, said plurality of non-USB plug contacts being recessed below one of a surface of said opposite substrate side and insulating ribs that are disposed proximate said plurality of non-USB plug contacts, thereby preventing said plurality of non-USB plug contacts from making physical contact with a component of said industry-standard Series A USB socket when said extended USB plug is fully inserted into said industry-standard Series A USB socket.

2. The peripheral device of claim 1 wherein a height of said extended USB plug is less than a height of said industry-standard Series A USB plug, said height of said industry-standard Series A USB plug being about 7.5 mm.

3. The peripheral device of claim 1 wherein said set of protocol processors further includes a second protocol processor operatively coupled to communicate with said device processor, said second protocol processor being configured to process a second protocol different from said first protocol.

4. The peripheral device of claim 3 wherein said second protocol is SATA.

5. The peripheral device of claim 3 wherein said second protocol is 1394.

6. The peripheral device of claim 3 wherein said second protocol is PCI Express.

7. The peripheral device of claim 1 wherein said set of protocol processors further includes a second protocol processor operatively coupled to communicate with said device processor, said second protocol processor being configured to process a second protocol different from said first protocol, said peripheral device further includes:

a multi-personality bus switch operatively coupled to said plurality of non-USB plug contacts and said second protocol processor, said multi-personality bus switch being configured to transmit non-USB signals received via said second protocol processor to said non-USB plug contacts if said host computer communicates using said second protocol.

8. The peripheral device of claim 7 further comprising a mode light emitting diode (LED) for indicating which protocol is currently employed for communication by said peripheral device.

9. The peripheral device of claim 7 further comprising a reset circuit for resetting said peripheral device.

10. The peripheral device of claim 7 further comprising a write-protect mechanism, said write-protect mechanism, when activated, prevents a user from inadvertently writing to said peripheral device.

11. The peripheral device of claim 7 wherein said set of protocol processors further includes a third protocol processor operatively coupled to communicate with said device processor, said third protocol processor being configured to process a third protocol different from said first protocol and said second protocol, said multi-personality bus switch being coupled with said third protocol processor, said multi-personality bus switch being configured to transmit said non-USB signals received via said third protocol processor to said non-USB plug contacts if said host computer communicates using said third protocol.

12. The peripheral device of claim 11 wherein said second protocol represents one of PCI Express, SATA, SAS and 1394 and said third protocol represents another one of said PCI Express, said SATA, said SAS and said 1394.

13. The peripheral device of claim 11 further comprising a personality selector circuit coupled to said multi-personality bus switch, said personality selector circuit being configured to configure said multi-personality switch to employ one of said second protocol processor or said third protocol processor for communication.

14. The peripheral device of claim 13 wherein said non-USB signals are analyzed by said device processor to ascertain a personality of said host computer, a result of an analysis of said non-USB signals enabling said personality selector to configure said multi-personality switch for said communication.

15. The peripheral device of claim 7 wherein said second protocol represents one of PCI Express, SATA, SAS and 1394.

16. The peripheral device of claim 15 wherein said first plug pin plug row are disposed on a first side of said extended pin substrate, said second plug pin plug row are disposed on a second side of said extended pin substrate that is opposite said first side of said extended pin substrate.

17. The peripheral device of claim 15 wherein said first protocol is USB, said first protocol processor receives communication from said host computer when said host computer communicates in said first protocol irrespective whether said host computer employs said industry-standard Series A USB socket or said extended USB socket.

18. The peripheral device of claim 15 wherein said first plug row consists of four pins and said second plug row consists of 8 pins.

19. The peripheral device of claim 15 wherein said first plug row consists of four pins and said second plug row consists of 6 pins.

20. The peripheral device of claim 15 wherein said second plug row is recessed below a surface of said extended pin substrate.

21. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of non-USB plug contacts are recessed below said surface of said opposite substrate side.

22. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of non-USB plug contacts are recessed below said insulating ribs.

23. A peripheral device, comprising:

a device processor;

a set of protocol processors having at least a first protocol processor, said set of protocol processors being operatively coupled to communicate with said device processor, said first protocol processor being configured to process a first protocol; and

an extended Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug configured to be pluggable into an industry-standard Series A USB socket, said extended USB plug also being configured to facilitate communication between said device processor and a host computer configured to be detachably coupled with said extended USB plug, said extended USB plug lacking an industry-standard Series A USB cover associated with an industry-standard Series A USB plug,

said extended USB plug including

an extended pin substrate having an extended substrate length longer than a length of a pin substrate of said industry-standard Series A USB plug, said length of said pin substrate of said industry-standard Series A USB plug being about 12 mm; and

a plurality of non-USB plug contacts supported by said extended pin substrate and arranged in a first plug row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB plug, said plurality of non-USB plug contacts being configured to carry non-USB signals, said plurality of non-USB contacts being physically arranged on said extended pin substrate such that said plurality of non-USB contacts would not electrically couple with a plurality of USB socket contacts of said industry-standard Series A USB socket when said extended USB plug is fully inserted into said industry-standard Series A USB socket;

wherein said extended USB plug is configured to detachably couple with said industry-standard Series A USB socket and an extended USB socket alternatively, said extended USB socket including an extended cavity having an extended cavity length longer than a length of a cavity of said industry-standard Series A USB socket, said length of said cavity of said industry-standard Series A USB socket being about 9 mm, and a plurality of non-USB socket contacts arranged in a first socket row in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said extended USB socket, said plurality of non-USB socket contacts being configured to carry said non-USB and wherein said plurality of non-USB plug contacts being disposed on an opposite substrate side of said extended pin substrate, said opposite substrate side being configured to not be adjacent to said plurality of USB socket contacts of said industry-standard Series A USB socket if said extended USB plug is fully inserted into said industry-standard Series A USB socket.

24. The peripheral device of claim 23 wherein a height of said extended USB plug is less than said industry-standard Series A USB plug, said height of said industry-standard Series A USB plug being about 7.5 mm.

25. The peripheral device of claim 23 further comprising a reset circuit for resetting said peripheral device.

26. The peripheral device of claim 23 further comprising a write-protect mechanism, said write-protect mechanism, when activated, prevents a user from inadvertently writing to said peripheral device.

27. The peripheral device of claim 23 wherein said non-USB signals represent 1394 signals.

28. The peripheral device of claim 23 wherein said non-USB signals represent PCI Express signals.

29. The peripheral device of claim 23 wherein said non-USB signals represent SAS signals.

30. The peripheral device of claim 23 wherein said non-USB signals represent SATA signals.

31. The peripheral device of claim 23, wherein said plurality of non-USB plug contacts are recessed below said surface of said opposite substrate side.

32. The peripheral device of claim 23, wherein said plurality of non-USB plug contacts are recessed below said insulating ribs.

33. The peripheral device of claim 23 wherein said set of protocol processors further includes a second protocol processor operatively coupled to communicate with said device processor, said second protocol processor being configured to process a second protocol different from said first protocol, said peripheral device further includes:

a multi-personality bus switch operatively coupled to said plurality of non-USB plug contacts and said first protocol processor and said second protocol processor, said multi-personality bus switch being configured to transmit non-USB signals received via said first protocol processor to said non-USB plug contacts if said host computer communicates using said first protocol, said multi-personality bus switch being configured to transmit non-USB signals received via said second protocol processor to said non-USB plug contacts if said host computer communicates using said second protocol.

34. The peripheral device of claim 33 wherein said first plug row are disposed on a first side of said extended pin substrate opposite a second side of said extended pin substrate, said second side of said extended pin substrate being configured to be adjacent to said USB socket contacts of said industry-standard Series A USB socket if said extended USB plug is fully inserted into said industry-standard Series A USB socket.

35. The peripheral device of claim 33 wherein said first plug row are disposed on a first side of said extended pin substrate, at least a portion of said first side of said extended pin substrate that does not have pins being configured to be adjacent to said USB socket contacts of said industry-standard Series A USB socket if said extended USB plug is fully inserted into said industry-standard Series A USB socket.

36. The peripheral device of claim 33 further comprising a mode light emitting diode (LED) for indicating which protocol is currently employed for communication by said peripheral device.

37. The peripheral device of claim 33 wherein said first protocol represents one of PCI-Express, SATA, SAS and 1394 and said second protocol represents another one of said PCI-Express, said SATA, said SAS and said 1394.

38. The peripheral device of claim 37 wherein said first plug row consists of 8 pins.

39. The peripheral device of claim 37 wherein said first plug row consists of 6 pins.

40. The peripheral device of claim 37 wherein said first plug row includes at least 4 pins.

41. The peripheral device of claim 37 wherein said first plug row is recessed below a surface of said extended pin substrate.

42. The peripheral device of claim 37 further comprising a personality selector circuit coupled to said multi-personality bus switch, said personality selector circuit being configured to configure said multi-personality switch to employ one of said first protocol processor or said second protocol processor for communication.

43. The peripheral device of claim 42 wherein said non-USB signals are analyzed by said device processor to ascertain a personality of said host computer, a result of an analysis of said non-USB signals enabling said personality selector to configure said multi-personality switch for said communication.