Type A USB receptacle with plug detection

• US 7,635,280 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2008
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Crumlin, Alex, Ferguson, David, Leiba, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen; Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US12/182,976
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 439/489, 439/488, 439/490
• US Class Current: 439/489
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7039 the coupling part with coding means activating the switch to establish different circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices

Abstract

A modified Series A universal serial bus (USB) receptacle connector is equipped with the functionality to allow the electronic system in which it resides to be configured either as a host device or a peripheral device. The modified USB Series A receptacle connector, according to one embodiment of the invention may include a mechanism such as an additional pin or a mechanical switch to detect the presence of a standard USB Series A plug being inserted into it. Upon detection of a plug, an algorithm may allow the system to determine whether it is to act as a host device or a peripheral device and to determine which device supplies power.

Claims

1. A modified universal serial bus (USB) Series A receptacle connector that is capable of receiving a standard USB Series A plug connector, the modified USB Series A receptacle connector comprising:

a metallic housing;

an extension plate disposed inside the metallic housing and spaced away from inside walls of the metallic housing;

a plurality of receptacle contact pins disposed on a first side of the extension plate and configured to mate with a corresponding plurality of plug contact pins in a standard Series A USB plug connector, the plurality of receptacle contact pins including a power pin, a ground pin, and two data pins; and

a plug detector separate from the plurality of receptacle contact pins and configured to detect an insertion of the standard USB Series A plug connector into the modified USB Series A receptacle connector while power is being withheld from the power pin.

2. The modified USB Series A receptacle connector of claim 1 wherein the plug detector comprises at least one of a contact pin, mechanical switch, capacitive sensor, or an inductive sensor.

3. The modified USB Series A receptacle connector of claim 2 wherein the contact pin, mechanical switch, capacitive sensor, or inductive sensor is integrated into the extension plate.

4. The modified USB Series A receptacle connector of claim 3 wherein the mechanical switch is moveable by engagement with the plug shell of the standard USB Series A plug connector.

5. The modified USB Series A receptacle connector of claim 3 wherein the contact pin is positioned to engage with the plug shell of the standard USB Series A plug connector.

6. The modified USB Series A receptacle connector of claim 1 wherein the plug detector cannot serve to exchange communication signals or exchange power with the standard USB Series A plug connector.

7. An electronic system comprising:

a USB transceiver which is configurable for down-stream facing and up-stream facing connections;

a host controller coupled to the USB transceiver;

a peripheral controller coupled to the USB transceiver; and

a modified USB Series A receptacle connector configured to;

detect an insertion of a standard USB Series A plug connector while power is being withheld from the modified USB Series A receptacle connector; and

generate upon detection of insertion of the standard USB Series A plug connector, a plug detect signal.

8. The electronic system of claim 7 further comprising a plug detect controller coupled to the modified USB Series A receptacle connector coupled to receive the plug detect signal.

9. The electronic system of claim 8, further comprising a resistive element coupled to the modified USB Series A receptacle connector and configured to generate the plug detect signal.

10. The electronic system of claim 9 wherein the resistive element comprises a resistive pull-up that couples to a logic high signal.

11. The electronic system of claim 7, wherein the modified USB Series A receptacle connector comprises:

a metallic housing;

an extension plate disposed inside the metallic housing and spaced away from inside walls of the metallic housing;

a plurality of receptacle contact pins disposed on a first side of the extension plate and configured to mate with a corresponding plurality of plug contact pins in a standard Series A USB plug connector, the plurality of receptacle contact pins including a power pin, a ground pin, and two data pins; and

a plug detector separate from the plurality of receptacle contact pins and configured to detect an insertion of the standard USB Series A plug connector into the modified USB Series A receptacle connector.

12. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein the plug detector comprises at least one of a contact pin, mechanical switch, capacitive sensor, or an inductive sensor.

13. The electronic system of claim 12, wherein the contact pin, mechanical switch, capacitive sensor, or inductive sensor is integrated into the extension plate.

14. The electronic system of claim 12 wherein the mechanical switch is moveable by engagement with the plug shell of the standard USB Series A plug connector.

15. The electronic system of claim 12 wherein the contact pin is positioned to engage with the plug shell of the standard USB Series A plug connector.

16. The electronic system of claim 7 wherein if the modified USB Series A receptacle connector detects insertion of a standard USB Series A plug connector, the electronic system is configured to determine whether the modified USB Series A receptacle connector is receiving power from the standard USB Series A plug connector.

17. The electronic system of claim 16 wherein if the electronic system determines that the modified USB Series A receptacle connector is receiving power from the standard USB Series A plug connector, the electronic system is configured to operate in a peripheral mode, and if the electronic system determines that the modified USB Series A receptacle connector is not receiving power from the standard USB Series A plug connector, the electronic system is configured to operate in a host mode.

18. The electronic system of claim 17 wherein operating in a host mode comprises supplying power to the modified USB Series A receptacle connector.