Apparatus and method to support USB enumeration of a bus powered handheld device

• US 7,523,338 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fundamental Innovation Systems International LLC (Fundamental Innovation Systems International Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Morris, Stewart, Fu, Runbo, Halse, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US11/248,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 713/340, 713/300, 713/320, 713/330
• US Class Current: 713/340
• 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

Abstract

The proposed solution relates to enumeration of a handheld device by a host controller in a laptop, and more particularly to a method and apparatus to support USB enumeration of such a handheld device where greater than 100 mA is required to enumerate the chipset associated with the handheld device. The proposed solution comprises a handheld device with an added USB microcontroller. In operation, the integrated USB microcontroller is only powered up when the USB charging cable is plugged in and the rechargeable battery level is below the threshold required to power up the handheld device with less than 100 mA pre-enumeration USB current. The integrated USB microcontroller performs USB enumeration with the host controller using the pre-enumeration 100 mA current, so that the charging current can be increased to 500 mA post enumeration. Once the rechargeable battery is charged to above the threshold for the handheld device'"'"'s chipset or when 500 mA current can be drawn from it, the chipset of the handheld device is powered up to take over USB communication from the USB microcontroller.

Claims

1. A handheld communication device, wherein said handheld communication device (300) communicates with a remote universal serial bus (USB) host controller via an integrated power and data port, said handheld communication device comprising:

(a) a microprocessor communicating with a power management integrated circuit (IC), wherein said microprocessor requires greater than 100 mA to be enumerated with said USB host controller;

(b) a multiplexer communicating with at least said integrated power and data port and said power management integrated circuit (IC);

(c) a USB charger IC communicating with said USB host controller via said integrated power and data port;

(d) a rechargeable battery communicating with said USB charger IC; and

(e) a USB microcontroller communicating with said USB host controller via said multiplexer and integrated power and data port;

wherein said USB microcontroller requires less than 100 mA to be enumerated with said USB host controller,

wherein, if a current available from said rechargeable battery is below a specified threshold required to power up said microprocessor, then said USB microcontroller performs USB enumeration with said USB host controller.

2. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein said integrated power and data port releasably connects to a device-specific adapter integral to a proximate end of a USB charging and sync cable, and wherein a distal end of said USB charging and sync cable comprises a standard USB connector for releasably connecting to said USB host controller.

3. The handheld communication device of claim 1 wherein said USB hub controller is housed in a personal computer.

4. The handheld communication device of claim 1, wherein if said current available from said rechargeable battery is above said specified threshold, then said microprocessor is enumerated by said USB host controller.

5. The handheld communication device of claim 1 wherein, upon connection of said USB charging and sync cable to said integrated power and data port, said rechargeable battery receives current via said USB charger IC, and wherein, following USB enumeration, if said current available from said rechargeable battery is above said specified threshold, then said microprocessor is powered up by said rechargeable battery.

6. The handheld communication device of claim 5 wherein, upon power up, said USB microcontroller is powered off.

7. The handheld communication device of claim 6 wherein, after said USB microcontroller is powered off, said microprocessor communicates with said USB host controller.

8. A method of performing USB enumeration of a handheld communication device communicating with a remote universal serial bus (USB) host controller via an integrated power and data port, wherein said handheld communication device comprises a rechargeable battery and a microprocessor, said method comprising:

(a) initiating a connection between said USB host controller and said handheld communication device; and

(b) if a current available from said rechargeable battery is below a specified threshold required to power up said microprocessor, then a USB microcontroller performs USB enumeration with said USB host controller,

wherein said microprocessor requires greater than 100 mA to be enumerated with said USB host controller,

and wherein said USB microcontroller requires less than 100 mA to be enumerated with said USB host controller.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of initiating comprises connecting a USB charging and sync cable from said integrated power and data port to a standard USB connector associated with a laptop housing said USB host controller.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein, if said current available from said rechargeable battery is above said specified threshold, then said microprocessor is enumerated by said USB host controller.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising, following USB enumeration, charging said rechargeable battery.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, if said current available from said rechargeable battery is above said specified threshold, then said microprocessor is powered up by said rechargeable battery.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising, following powering up of said microprocessor, powering off said USB microcontroller.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising, following power off of said USB microcontroller, said microprocessor communicating with said USB host controller.

15. A handheld communication device, wherein said handheld communication device communicates with a remote universal serial bus (USB) host controller via a cable, said handheld communication device comprising:

(a) a system processor communicating with a power management integrated circuit (IC) and wherein said system processor requires greater than 100 mA to be enumerated with said USB host controller;

(b) a USB hub controller communicating with at least said system processor, wherein said USB hub controller requires less than 100 mA to be enumerated with said USB host controller;

(c) a USB charger IC communicating with said USB host controller via said cable;

(d) a rechargeable battery communicating with said USB charger IC; and

(e) the power management integrated circuit (IC) communicating with said system processor,

wherein, if a current available from said rechargeable battery is below a specified threshold required to power up said system processor, then said USB hub controller performs USB enumeration with said USB host controller.

16. The handheld communication device of claim 15 wherein said cable is a USB charging and sync cable, and wherein said rechargeable battery receives current via said USB charger IC, and wherein, following USB enumeration, if said current available from said rechargeable battery is above said specified threshold, then said system processor is powered up by said rechargeable battery.

17. The handheld communication device of claim 15 wherein, following power up, said system processor enumerates as a device connected to said USB hub controller.

18. A method of performing USB enumeration of a handheld communication device communicating with a remote universal serial bus (USB) host controller via a cable,

wherein said handheld communication device comprises a rechargeable battery and a system processor, said method comprising:

(a) initiating a connection between said USB host controller and said handheld communication device; and

(b) if a current available from said rechargeable battery is below a specified threshold required to power up said system processor, then a USB hub controller performs USB enumeration with said USB host controller,

wherein said system processor requires greater than 100 mA to be enumerated with said USB host controller,

and wherein said USB hub controller requires less than 100 mA to be enumerated with said USB host controller.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said cable is a USB charging and sync cable, and wherein said step of initiating comprises connecting said USB charging and sync cable to a standard USB connector associated with a laptop housing said USB host controller.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising, following USB enumeration, charging said rechargeable battery, wherein, if said current available from said rechargeable battery is above said specified threshold, then said system processor is powered up by said rechargeable battery.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising, following power up, said system processor communicating with said USB hub controller.