System and method for enumerating a USB device using low power

• US 7,624,202 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Monks, Morgan H., Bohm, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, ALAN S
• Application Number:
  US11/465,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20080126594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 710/15
• US Class Current: 710/15
• 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

System and method for enumerating and/or enumerating a device. The device may be a USB portable device which adheres to a first standard, e.g., the USB specification, and may engage in enumeration with respect to a USB hub/USB host device. Where a battery included in the device is sufficiently low, the device may engage in low power enumeration, e.g., to begin charging the device using enumerated power. Low power enumeration may allow the device to enumerate even when the device is incapable of powering on. Additionally, or alternatively, the device may determine whether the hub/host device is capable of providing high power charging. If it is, the device may begin charging the battery of the device using power provided by the hub/host device at a high power level.

Claims

1. A Universal Serial Bus (USB) device, comprising:

a battery;

at least one port, coupled to the battery, wherein the at least one port is for coupling to a host USB device, wherein the battery is charged by the host USB device, wherein, during operation, the at least one port receives an enumeration request from the host USB device; and

a USB PHY coupled to the battery, wherein, when the USB device is coupled to the host USB device, the USB PHY detects a charge state of the battery, wherein, when coupled to the host USB device, the USB PHY enables the USB device to engage in USB device enumeration in response to the enumeration request when the charge state of the battery is sufficient to engage in the USB device enumeration;

wherein the USB PHY comprises first circuitry, wherein the first circuitry engages in first circuitry enumeration of the USB device when the charge state of the battery is not sufficient to engage in the USB device enumeration, wherein the USB PHY uses power received from the host USB device in performing the first circuitry enumeration, and wherein the first circuitry enumeration is distinct from the USB device enumeration; and

wherein the USB device is fully functional with respect to the host USB device when enumerated using the USB device enumeration, and wherein the USB device is not fully functional with respect to the host USB device when enumerated using the first circuitry enumeration.

2. The USB device of claim 1, further comprising:

battery charging circuitry, coupled to the battery and the at least one port, wherein, when the USB device is coupled to the host USB device and based on the state of charge of the battery, the battery charging circuit charges the battery using the power received from the host USB device.

3. The USB device of claim 2, wherein the USB device further comprises:

device circuit, wherein, during operation, the device circuitry performs functions of the USB device and, when the USB device is coupled to the host USB device, engages in the USB device enumeration of the USB device; and

wherein, when the USB device is coupled to the host USB device, the detection logic determines if the charge state of the battery is sufficient during charging, and wherein, when the detection logic determines that the charge state of the battery is sufficient, the device circuitry engages in the USB device enumeration.

4. The USB device of claim 1, wherein the USB device further comprises:

device circuitry, wherein, during operation, the device circuitry performs functions of the USB device and, when the USB device is coupled to the host USB device, engages in the USB device enumeration of the USB device when the battery is sufficiently charged.

5. The USB device of claim 1, wherein, when the USB device is coupled to the host USB device, the detection logic:

determines if the USB device should receive high-power charging of the battery; and

requests and receives the high-power to charge the battery from the host USB device when the USB device should receive high-power charging, wherein the power received from the host USB device during the high-power charging is at a first power level, wherein the first power level is greater than an enumeration power level, and wherein, prior to and during the high-power charging, the USB device is not enumerated.

6. The USB device of claim 1, wherein the USB device further comprises:

device circuitry, wherein, during operation, the device circuitry performs functions of the device if the battery is sufficiently charged, and wherein, during operation, a user of the USB device uses the USB device via the functions of the USB device while the USB device is being charged.

7. The USB device of claim 1, wherein the power received from the host USB device in performing the first circuitry enumeration comprises a current which is substantially 100 milliamps (mA) or less.

8. The USB device of claim 1, wherein the power received from the host USB device after enumeration comprises a current which is substantially 500 mA or less.

9. The USB device of claim 1, wherein the first circuitry enumeration comprises low power or full speed enumeration.

10. The USB device of claim 1, wherein said engaging in first circuitry enumeration only uses power from the USB host, and wherein the USB device is unable to power on only using the power provided from the USB host prior to the first circuitry enumeration.

11. A method for charging a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device, comprising:

detecting coupling of the USB device to a USB host device;

determining if a battery of the USB device is sufficiently charged for USB device enumeration;

when the battery of the USB device is not sufficiently charged for the USB device enumeration, engaging in enumeration of the USB device using low-power enumeration, wherein said engaging in enumeration of the USB device using the low-power enumeration uses power received from the USB host device during enumeration, and wherein said engaging in enumeration is performed by a PHY of the USB device;

when the battery of the USB device is sufficiently charged for the USB device enumeration, engaging in the USB device enumeration of the USB device;

wherein the USB device is fully functional with respect to the host USB device when enumerated using the USB device enumeration, and wherein the USB device is not fully functional with respect to the host USB device when enumerated using the low-power enumeration.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

charging the battery of the USB device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a charge state of the battery during said charging the battery when the battery of the USB device was enumerated using the low-power enumeration;

when the charge state of the battery is sufficient based on said determining, powering the USB device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said powering the USB device is performed in response to user input or automatically, wherein said automatically powering the USB device is performed without user input specifying powering of the USB device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

when the charge state of the battery is sufficient based on said determining, engaging in the USB device enumeration of the USB device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

determining if the USB device requires high-power charging of the battery; and

requesting and receiving power at a first power level to charge the battery from the host USB device if the USB device requires the high-power charging, wherein the first power level is greater than an enumeration power level.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

charging the battery with the power received from the host USB at the first power level.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the power received from the host USB device during said engaging in enumeration comprises a current which is substantially 100 milliamps (mA).

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

charging the battery with enumerated power received from the USB host if the USB device is enumerated.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the received enumerated power comprises a current which is substantially 500 mA.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the USB device is unable to power on only using power provided from the USB host prior to the low-power enumeration, and wherein said engaging in enumeration using the low-power enumeration only uses the power provided by the USB host.