Systems and methods for charging a chargeable USB device

• US 7,679,317 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fundamental Innovation Systems International LLC (Fundamental Innovation Systems International Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Veselic, Dusan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torres Ruiz, Johali A
• Application Number:
  US11/057,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20060181241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,855 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 320/107, 320/114, 320/137, 320/161, 320/110, 320/11
• US Class Current: 320/107
• 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: H02J 2207/30 Charge provided using DC bus or data bus of a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for charging a USB device. A USB connector may be used to couple the system to a USB port on the USB device, the USB connector including a bus voltage (Vbus) connector, a positive data (D+) connector, and a negative data (D−) connector. Charger circuitry may be used to receive a source voltage and convert the source voltage into the bus voltage (Vbus), wherein the bus voltage (Vbus) is used to charge the USB device. Presence detect circuitry may be used to compare a first voltage present on the D+ connector with a second voltage present on the D− connector in order to detect when the USB connector is coupled to the USB port of the USB device.

Claims

1. A system for charging a universal serial bus (USB) device, comprising:

a USB connector for coupling the system to a USB port on the USB device, the USB connector including a bus voltage (Vbus) connector, a positive data (D+) connector, and a negative data (D−

) connector;

charger circuitry configured to receive a source voltage and convert the source voltage into the bus voltage (Vbus), wherein the bus voltage (Vbus) is used to charge the USB device; and

presence detect circuitry configured to compare a first voltage present on the D+ connector with a second voltage present on the D−

connector while both D+ and D−

are in a logic high range, and further configured to use a detected difference between the first and second voltages in enabling use of the Vbus to charge the USB device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the USB device is a mobile device, and wherein the bus voltage (Vbus) is used to charge a rechargeable battery in the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the presence detect circuitry generates a device presence signal that indicates whether the USB connector is coupled to the USB port of the USB device, further comprising:

user feedback circuitry configured to receive the device presence signal and to use the device presence signal to generate an output on a user interface device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the user interface device is a light-emitting diode (LED), and wherein the user feedback circuitry indicates that the USB connector is coupled to the USB port of the USB device by lighting the LED.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the user feedback circuitry comprises:

a light-emitting diode coupled to the presence detect circuitry;

wherein the device presence signal causes the light-emitting diode to turn on when the USB connector is coupled to the USB port of the USB device and causes the light-emitting diode to turn off when the USB connector is not coupled to the USB port of the USB device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the presence detect circuitry further comprises:

a current sense circuit configured to generate a current sense output that indicates when power is drawn from the charger circuitry by the USB device; and

a second light-emitting diode coupled to the current sense circuit;

wherein the current sense output causes the second light-emitting diode to turn on when power is drawn from the charger circuitry by the USB device and causes the light-emitting diode to turn off when power is not drawn from the charger circuitry by the USB device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the presence detect circuit further comprises:

a comparison circuit configured to compare the current sense output with a reference voltage to control the operation of the second light-emitting diode.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the current sense circuit is a current mirror, and wherein the current sense output is proportional to an amount of current drawn from the charger circuitry by the USB device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the presence detect circuitry further comprises:

a resistor-capacitor circuit coupled between the current sense circuit and the comparison circuit and configured to stabilize the current sense output.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the presence detect circuitry generates a device presence signal that indicates whether the USB connector is coupled to the USB port of the USB device, and wherein the device presence signal is received by the charger circuitry and controls a voltage level of the bus voltage (Vbus).

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the presence detect circuitry comprises:

a comparison circuit configured to compare the first voltage present on the D+ connector with the second voltage present on the D−

connector to generate a device presence signal that indicates whether the USB connector is coupled to the USB port of the USB device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the comparison circuit includes a comparator configured to compare the first voltage with the second voltage to generate the device presence signal.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the presence detect circuitry is configured to maintain the first voltage at a higher voltage within the logic high range than the second voltage when the USB connector is not coupled to the USB port of the USB device;

when the USB connector is coupled to the USB port of the USB device, the USB device causes a variance in one of the first voltage or the second voltage such that the second voltage is higher than the first voltage within the logic high range; and

the presence detect circuitry detects the variance in order to detect when the USB connector is coupled to the USB port of the USB device.

14. In a system for charging a universal serial bus (USB) device, a method for detecting that the USB device is attached to a USB charger, comprising:

generating a first USB data signal having a first voltage;

generating a second USB data signal having a second voltage;

wherein the first voltage and second voltage are both within a voltage range for a high logic state;

comparing the first data signal with the second data signal to detect if the first voltage varies with respect to the second voltage;

wherein the USB device causes the first voltage to vary with respect to the second voltage when the USB device detects it is attached to the USB charger.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

if the first voltage varies with respect to the second voltage, then generating an output on a user interface device indicating that the USB device is attached to the USB charger.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein:

wherein the first data signal is generated with a higher voltage than the second data signal;

wherein the USB device causes the first voltage to vary with respect to the second voltage when the USB device is attached to the USB charger such that the first voltage falls below the second voltage; and

wherein the output on the user interface device is generated if the first voltage falls below the second voltage.

17. A system for charging a universal serial bus (USB) device, comprising:

means for coupling the system to a USB port on the USB device using a bus voltage (Vbus) connector, a positive data (D+) connector, and a negative data (D−

) connector;

means for receiving a source voltage and converting the source voltage into the bus voltage (Vbus), wherein the bus voltage (Vbus) is used to charge the USB device; and

means for comparing a first voltage present on the D+ connector with a second voltage present on the D−

connector while both D+ and D−

are in a logic high state, and further configured to use a detected difference between the first and second voltages in enabling use of the Vbus to charge the USB device.