System and method for protecting low voltage transceiver

• US 7,711,039 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: North Star Innovations Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Matthew M., Iyengar, Srinivasan S., Bahadori, Sarvenaz, Ruff, Alan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bocure, Tesfaldet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Lawrence B
• Application Number:
  US11/096,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20060222059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 375219-220, 375/377, 361/90, 361/91.1, 455/73, 455/88, 455/89, 455/95, 455/455, 455/553.1, 455/343.1, 455/343.5, 455/343.6, 455/117, 455/127.1, 455/522, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, D14/155, D14/358, D14/435.1, 710/106, 710/313, 320/114, 320/134
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers

Abstract

A transceiver module can share a common connector with a rechargeable battery connection. The transceiver module can be protected from the high voltages applied by a battery charger. Determining when the voltage applied at a connector exceeds a reference voltage and electrically decoupling the transceiver module from the connector when the reference voltage is exceeded can protect the transceiver module. The reference voltage can be set at a level so that the transceiver is decoupled from the connector when the voltage at the connector reaches a voltage that is unsafe for the transceiver.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a first voltage at a connector wherein at least a transceiver module portion of an integrated circuit is operable to be powered through the connector;

electrically decoupling the transceiver module from the connector in response to the first detected voltage having a value greater than a first voltage value, the transceiver module to send and receive information external the integrated circuit; and

powering the transceiver module through the connector prior to electrically decoupling the transceiver and powering the transceiver through a different connector coupled to a battery in response to the first voltage having a value greater than the first voltage value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disabling the operation of the transceiver module in response to the first detected voltage having a value greater than the first voltage value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the connector and the different connector are external connectors of the integrated circuit.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

electrically coupling the transceiver module to the connector in response to the first voltage being less than the first voltage value.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein electrically decoupling further comprises electrically decoupling the transceiver module from the connector in response to the first voltage being less than a second voltage value, wherein the second voltage value is less than the first voltage value.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein electrically decoupling further comprises electrically decoupling the transceiver module from the connector in response to the first voltage being less than a second voltage value, wherein the second voltage value is less than the first voltage value.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein electrically decoupling the transceiver module results in the transceiver being powered down while other portions of the integrated circuit remain powered.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

electrically coupling a system comprising the connector to an external voltage reference, wherein the external voltage reference is generated separate from the system and the first voltage is based upon a voltage of the external voltage reference.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the system comprises a mobile phone.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the system comprises a personal data assistant (PDA).

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the transceiver module is capable of communicating with universal serial bus (USB) systems and the connector comprises a USB VBUS connection.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

electrically coupling the transceiver module to the connector in response to a USB on-the-go (OTG) session being initiated.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the connector is a connector of the integrated circuit.

14. A system, comprising:

a connector;

an integrated circuit, comprising,

a transceiver module comprising an input to provide a supply voltage to at least a portion of the transceiver module;

a first comparator comprising an input coupled to the connector and an output to indicate when a voltage at the connector is greater than a first voltage; and

a control module comprising a first input coupled to the output of the first comparator, a second input coupled to the connector, a third input coupled to the output of a second comparator and an output coupled to the transceiver module wherein the output is electrically decoupled from the second input in response to the first comparator indicating the voltage at the connector is greater than the first voltage, and the output is electrically coupled to the connector in response to the first comparator indicating the voltage at the connector is less than the first voltage and the output is electrically decoupled from the connector in response to the second comparator indicating the voltage at the connector is less than the second voltage, wherein the second voltage is less than the first voltage.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the transceiver module is capable of communicating with universal serial bus (USB) systems, and the control module further comprises a third input coupled to the transceiver module to receive an indication when a USB OTG session has been initiated wherein the output is electrically coupled to the second input in response to receiving at the third input the indication that a USB on-the-go (OTG) session has been initiated.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the system comprises a cell phone integrated circuit.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the system comprises a personal data assistant (PDA) integrated circuit.

18. A system, comprising:

a connector;

an integrated circuit, comprising,

a transceiver module comprising an input to receive a supply voltage to power at least a portion of the transceiver module;

a first comparator comprising an input coupled to the connector and an output to indicate when a voltage at the connector is greater than a first voltage; and

a control module comprising a first input coupled to the output of the first comparator, a second input coupled to the connector, and an output coupled to the transceiver module wherein the output is electrically decoupled from the second input in response to the first comparator indicating the voltage at the connector is greater than the first voltage, and the output is electrically coupled to the connector in response to the first comparator indicating the voltage at the connector is less than the first voltage;

wherein the transceiver module is capable of communicating with universal serial bus (USB) systems, and the control module further comprises a third input coupled to the transceiver module to receive an indication when a USB OTG session has been initiated wherein the output is electrically coupled to the second input in response to receiving at the third input the indication that a USB on-the-go (OTG) session has been initiated.

19. A method comprising:

detecting a first voltage at a connector wherein at least a transceiver module portion of an integrated circuit is operable to be powered through the connector, wherein the transceiver module is capable of communicating with universal serial bus (USB) systems and the connector comprises a USB VBUS connection;

electrically decoupling the transceiver module from the connector in response to the first detected voltage having a value greater than a first voltage value, the transceiver module to send and receive information external the integrated circuit; and

electrically coupling the transceiver module to the connector in response to a USB on-the-go (OTG) session being initiated.