System method for rapidly charging USB device's battery wherein USB device requests charging the battery at a higher power level

• US 7,631,111 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• 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): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US11/465,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 710/15, 710/8, 710/16, 710/18, 710/19, 713/300, 713/340
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

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 method for charging a device, comprising:

a hub detecting coupling of the device, wherein the device comprises a battery;

the hub determining if the device should receive high-power charging of the battery, wherein determining if the device should receive high-power charging is based on a request received from the device when the device should receive the high-power charging;

the hub receiving power from a power source other than a host device;

the hub providing power to the device at a first power level to charge the battery if the device should receive the high-power charging of the battery, wherein the first power level is greater than a maximum enumeration power level, wherein, prior to and during charging, the device is not enumerated, and wherein at least a portion of the power at the first power level is provided from the power source; and

if the device should not receive high-power charging of the battery, the hub enumerating the device with respect to the host device and providing power to the device at a second power level lower than the first power level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a universal serial bus (USB) device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device enumeration conforms to the universal serial bus (USB) 2.0 specification.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hub is a universal serial bus (USB) hub.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining if the device requires the high-power charging comprises detecting a specified voltage or current from the device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power level is above a current of 500 milliamps (mA).

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the hub sending a signal to the device indicating that the device is coupled to a charging device after detecting coupling of the device.

8. The method of claim 1, where said determining if the device should receive the high-power charging comprises determining if the battery of the device is unable to power the device.

9. A universal serial bus (USB) hub, comprising:

one or more downstream ports, operable to couple respectively to one or more downstream USB devices;

logic circuitry coupled to the one or more downstream ports; and

power circuitry coupled to the logic circuitry, wherein the power circuitry is configured to receive power from a power source other than a host device coupled to the USB hub;

wherein the logic circuitry is operable to;

detect coupling of a USB device to a downstream port of the one or more downstream ports, wherein the USB device comprises a battery; and

determine if the USB device should receive high-power charging of the battery, wherein determining if the USB device should receive high-power is based on a request received from the USB device when the USB device should receive the high-power charging; and

wherein the power circuitry is operable to provide power to the USB device at a first power level to charge the battery if the logic circuitry determines that the USB device should receive the high-power charging of the battery, wherein the first power level is greater than a maximum enumeration power level, wherein, prior to and during the high-power charging, the USB device is not enumerated, and wherein at least a portion of the power at the first power level is provided from the power source; and

wherein the power circuitry is operable to enumerate the USB device with respect to a host device if the logic circuitry determines that the USB device should not receive the high-power charging.

10. The USB hub of claim 9, wherein the power circuitry is further operable to:

provide power to the USB device at an enumeration power level to charge the battery after enumeration.

11. The USB hub of claim 9, wherein the logic circuitry is further operable to send a signal to the USB device indicating that the USB device is coupled to a USB charging device.

12. A method for charging a universal serial bus (USB) device, comprising:

a hub detecting coupling of the USB device, wherein the USB device comprises a battery;

the hub charging the battery of the USB device at high power if the USB device requests high-power charging, wherein the high power is in excess of a maximum power level that would be provided to an enumerated USB device, wherein, prior to and during said charging, the USB device is not enumerated, and wherein at least a portion of the high power is provided from a power source that is separate from power provided from a host device; and

the hub charging the battery of the USB device at enumerated power if the USB device does not request high-power charging, wherein at least a portion of the enumerated power is provided from the host device.