Electrically disconnecting a peripheral device

• US 7,325,733 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nera Innovations Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Tetsuo, Atchison, Mark Colman, Wurzburg, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US11/530,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20070023499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 235/439, 235/376, 235/382.5
• US Class Current: 235/441
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device

Abstract

If a USB device is turned off or is not active, the device may be electrically disconnected from a USB host controller. The device may be electrically disconnected through a physical interface on the device. In some embodiments, if the device becomes active during a wait period (e.g., 2-3 seconds) prior to electrically disconnecting the device, the device may not be electrically disconnected. In some embodiments, when the device is electrically disconnected from the USB host controller and no system activity of a bus mastering peripheral is occurring, the CPU may enter a low power state if other conditions are met. In some embodiments, if the USB device becomes active after electrically disconnecting, the electrical disconnection may be discontinued.

Claims

1. A System, comprising:

a processor;

a host controller coupled to the processor; and

a device coupled to the host controller;

wherein the device is electrically disconnected from the host controller if the device is not in an active state; and

wherein the device being electrically disconnected from the host controller causes an appearance to the host controller that the device is not coupled to the host controller.

2. They system of claim 1, wherein the device is operable to perform the electrical disconnection from the host controller if the device is not in an active state.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the device being electrically disconnected from the host controller allows the processor to enter a low power state or remain in a low power state.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a card reader and the active state comprises a memory card in the card reader.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a hub and the active state comprises a second device attached to the hub.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is not in an active state if the device has not been used in a specified amount of time.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein when the device is electrically disconnected from the host controller, the device does not cause bus activity.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a card reader, and if a memory card is inserted into the card reader and the card reader has been previously electrically disconnected, the electrical disconnect from the host controller is discontinued.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein if the processor is in a low power state, the processor exits the low power state if the electrical disconnect is discontinued.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is a card reader and the card reader is permanently coupled to a portable computer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein electrically disconnecting the device comprises electrically removing a pull up resistor from a D+ line.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein electrically disconnecting the device comprises tri-stating a D+ line and a D−

line.

13. A method, comprising:

detecting whether a device coupled to a host controller is in an active state;

if the device is not in an active state, electrically disconnecting the device from a host controller, wherein electrically disconnecting the device from the host controller causes an appearance to the host controller that the device is not coupled to the host controller; and

if the device is in an active state, maintaining an electrical connection between the device and the host controller.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said electrically disconnecting the device from the host controller comprises the device electrically disconnecting from the host controller.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the device being electrically disconnected from the host controller allows the processor to enter a low power state or remain in a low power state.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the device is a card reader, and the active state comprises a memory card inserted in the card reader.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the device is a hub, and the active state comprises a second device coupled to the hub.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the device is not in an active state if the device has not been used in a specified amount of time.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the device is a card reader, and if a memory card is inserted into the card reader after the card reader has been electrically disconnected, the electrical disconnect is discontinued.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein electrically disconnecting the device comprises electrically removing a pull up resistor from a D+ line.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein electrically disconnecting the device comprises tri-stating a D+ line and a D−

line.

22. A computer accessible memory medium that stores program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

detect whether a device coupled to a host controller is in an active state;

if the device is not in an active state, electrically disconnect the device from a host controller, wherein electrically disconnecting the device from the host controller causes an appearance to the host controller that a device is not coupled to the host controller; and

if the device is in an active state, maintain an electrical connection between the device and the host controller.

23. The memory medium of claim 22, wherein said electrically disconnecting the device from the host controller comprises the device electrically disconnecting from the host controller.

24. The memory medium of claim 22, wherein the device is a card reader, and the active state comprises a memory card inserted in the card reader.

25. The memory medium of claim 22, wherein the device is a hub, and the active state comprises a second device coupled to the hub.