Apparatus and method for controlling USB operation

• US 7,694,032 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2007
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lim, Jin-ho, Lee, Tae-hun
• Primary Examiner(s): Park; Ilwoo
• Application Number:
  US11/746,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20080183909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling a USB operation, whereby the USB operation can be controlled without unplugging a USB cable while maintaining a charge state from a host device. The USB apparatus includes a USB connector to which a USB cable connected to a host device is connected, and a switching unit to switch to one of a first operation mode, in which data communication with the host device is enabled, and a second operation mode, in which an operation depending on a user input is enabled and data communication with the host device is disabled, by controlling power lines and data lines of the USB cable via the USB connector, wherein power can be charged from the host device in both the first operation mode and the second operation mode. Accordingly, a user can switch a USB operation mode without unplugging the USB cable.

Claims

1. A Universal Serial Bus (USB) apparatus connectable to an external host device, the apparatus comprising:

a USB connector to which a USB cable connected to the host device is connected; and

a switching unit to switch between first and second operation modes by controlling power lines and data lines of the USB cable via the USB connector, the first operation mode being a mode in which data communication with the host device is enabled, and the second operation mode being a mode in which an operation depending on a user input is enabled and data communication with the host device is disabled;

wherein power can be charged from the host device in both the first operation mode and the second operation mode, and

wherein, when the switching unit switches from the first operation mode to the second operation mode, the data lines are disconnected, after a predetermined time period elapses after the data lines are disconnected, the power lines are disconnected, and once the data lines and the power lines have been disconnected, a signal to re-connecting the power lines is output.

2. The USB apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the switching unit switches from the second operation mode to the first operation mode, the power lines are disconnected, a signal to re-connect the power lines is output when the power lines have been disconnected, and, a signal to connecting the data lines is output after a predetermined time period elapses after the power lines have been disconnected.

3. The USB apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a user input unit to receive a user input signal;

wherein the switching unit switches between the first and second operation modes by controlling the power lines and the data lines of the USB cable according to an operation mode selected by the user input signal.

4. A Universal Serial Bus (USB) apparatus connectable to an external host via a USB cable, the apparatus comprising:

a USB connector to which the USB cable is connected, to connect the host device;

a switching unit to control power lines and data lines of the USB cable via the USB connector; and

a controller to control the switching unit to switch between a first operation mode in which data communication with the host device is enabled and a second operation mode in which an operation depending on a user input is enabled and data communication with the host device is disabled;

wherein power is charged from the host device in both the first operation mode and the second operation mode, and when switching from the first operation mode to the second operation mode, the controller controls the switching unit to disconnect the data lines, to disconnect the power lines after a predetermined time period elapses after the data lines are disconnected, and to output a signal to re-connect the power lines if the data lines and the power lines have been disconnected.

5. The USB apparatus of claim 4, wherein, when switching from the second operation mode to the first operation mode, the controller controls the switching unit to disconnect the power lines, to output a signal to re-connect the power lines if the power lines have been disconnected, and to output a signal to connect the data lines after a predetermined time period elapses after the power lines have been disconnected.

6. The USB apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a user input unit to receive a user input signal,

wherein the controller controls the switching unit according to an operation mode selected by the user input signal.

7. The USB apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller controls the switching unit to switch to one of the first and second operation modes when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

8. The USB apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied if the data lines are not used for a predetermined time while in the first operation mode.

9. The USB apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied if a predetermined time period elapses.

10. A method of controlling a Universal Serial Bus (USB) operation of a USB device connected to a host device via a USB cable, the method comprising:

selecting one of a first operation mode in which data communication with a host device is enabled and a second operation mode in which an operation depending on a user input is enabled and data communication with the host device is disabled; and

switching to a selected operation mode by controlling power lines and data lines of a USB cable,

wherein power can be charged from the host device in both the first operation mode and the second operation mode, and

wherein if the second operation mode is selected while operating in the first operation mode, the switching to the selected operation mode comprises;

disconnecting the data lines of the USB cable;

disconnecting the power lines of the USB cable after a predetermined time period elapses; and

outputting a signal to re-connect the power lines, if the data lines and the power lines have been disconnected.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein if the first operation mode is selected while operating in the second operation mode, the switching to the selected operation mode comprises:

disconnecting the power lines of the USB cable;

outputting a signal to re-connect the power lines of the USB cable if the power lines have been disconnected; and

after a predetermined time period elapses, outputting a signal to connect the data lines.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving a user input signal to select the first operation mode or the second operation mode.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein one of the first or second operation mode is selected if a predetermined condition is satisfied.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined condition is satisfied if the data lines are not used for a predetermined period of time while in the first operation mode.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined condition is satisfied if a predetermined time period elapses.

16. A computer readable recording medium storing a computer readable program for executing a method of controlling a Universal Serial Bus (USB) operation of a USB device connected to a host device via a USB cable, the method comprising:

selecting one of a first operation mode in which data communication with a host device is enabled and a second operation mode in which an operation depending on a user input is enabled and data communication with the host device is disabled; and

switching to a selected operation mode by controlling power lines and data lines of a USB cable,

wherein power can be charged from the host device in both the first operation mode and the second operation mode, and

wherein if the second operation mode is selected while operating in the first operation mode, the switching to the selected operation mode comprises;

disconnecting the data lines of the USB cable;

disconnecting the power lines of the USB cable after a predetermined time period elapses; and

outputting a signal to re-connect the power lines, if the data lines and the power lines have been disconnected.

17. An apparatus connectable to an external host device, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a connector disposed at or in the housing, having data lines to transfer data between the apparatus and the host device and a power line to receive power from the host device; and

a switching unit arranged within the housing to switch between a first operation mode in which data communication with the host device is enabled and a second operation mode in which an operation depending on user input is enabled and data communication with the host device is disabled, by controlling the power lines of the USB connector;

wherein power is charged from the host device in both the first operation mode and the second operation mode, and

wherein, when switching from the first operation mode to the second operation mode, the controller controls the switching unit to disconnect the data lines, to disconnect the power lines after a predetermined time period elapses after the data lines are disconnected, and to output a signal for re-connecting the power lines if the data lines and the power lines have been disconnected.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a controller to control the switching unit to switch between the first operation mode and the second operation mode.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein, when switching from the second operation mode to the first operation mode, the controller controls the switching unit to disconnect the power lines, to output a signal to re-connect the power lines if the power lines have been disconnected, and to output a signal to connect the data lines after a predetermined time period elapses after the power lines are disconnected.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller controls the switching unit to switch to an operation mode when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the controller determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied when the data lines are not used for a predetermined period of time while in the first operation mode.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the controller determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied when a predetermined time period elapses.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a user input unit attached to, or arranged within, the housing to receive a user input signal;

wherein the controller controls the switching unit according to an operation mode selected by the user input signal.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the user input unit is not a component of the host device.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the USB apparatus is a portable media device.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is a docking station to which a portable device is detachably connected to be charged and to selectively transfer data with respect to the host device.