Audio system, and USB/UART common communication system for the same

• US 7,743,187 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telechips Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Telechips Incorporated
• Inventors: Choi, Jae-Soon, Yoon, Hee-Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Sorrell; Eron J
• Application Number:
  US11/619,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20070180170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]

Abstract

An audio system sets a signal line path between the medium of an audio device and an external device and uploads a digital audio file from the external device to the audio device according to a user'"'"'s manipulation of the audio. In addition, a communication system selectively uses USB and UART communications by commonly using a single USB connector and connects a connector of an external device and an audio/USB/UART common connector through a single cable, so that audio/USB or audio/UART signals are selectively outputted through a common audio signal line. Accordingly, the audio system can interface with various kinds of external devices without external modification or additional installation of a dedicated interface in the audio device with a USB connector. In addition, the USB/UART common communication system can commonly use the USB connector without regard to USB and UART connection signals and can selectively output the audio/USB or audio/UART signals through the single cable in the audio device.

Claims

1. An audio system which accommodates an external device, comprising:

an adapter having an external device connector at one terminal and a USB connector at another terminal to provide a signal connection therebetween, the external device connector being provided for connection to the external device; and

an audio device which includes;

a USB connector which provides an interface to an external device connected either directly thereto or through the adapter;

a multiplexer which establishes a signal path to the USB connecter by either a USB signal line or a serial signal line corresponding to a selection control signal;

a USB controller, connected to the external device through the USB signal line, which decodes a digital audio file received from the external device so as to output a sound;

a serial controller, connected to the external device via the adapter through the serial signal line, which receives song information through the serial signal line so as to provide the external device with a device control signal based on a user operation; and

an audio controller which provides the multiplexer with the selection control signal based on a device identification when the external device is connected via the USB connector, moves the digital audio file from the external device through the USB controller in the case that the external device is a USB device, receives the song information from the external device through the serial controller and provides the device control signal to the external device so as to let the external device be driven in response to the device control signal in the case that the external device is not a USB device.

2. The audio system according to claim 1,

wherein the audio controller performs communication when the external device is connected to the USB connector, and establishes a signal path by determining whether the external device is the USB device based on a result of the communication.

4. The audio system according to claim 1,

wherein the audio system utilizes a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART).

5. The audio system according to claim 4,

wherein the adapter transmits and receives a UART signal to and from the USB connector through a signal line connection of an expanded external connector and the USB connector, so that the signal connection is provided between an external device having an expansion connector and an audio device having the USB connector.

3. An audio system which accommodates an external device, comprising:

an adapter having an external device connector at one terminal and a USB connector at another terminal to provide a signal connection therebetween, the external device connector being provided for connection to the external device; and

an audio device which includes;

a USB connector which provides an interface to an external device connected either directly thereto or through the adapter;

a USB controller, connected to the external device through a USB signal line, which decodes a digital audio file received from the external device so as to output a sound;

a serial controller, connected to the external device via the adapter through a serial signal line, which receives song information through the serial signal line so as to provide the external device with a device control signal based on a user operation; and

an audio controller which establishes a signal path of either the USB signal line or the serial signal line corresponding to an external device identification based on a communication result when the external device is connected to the USB connector, moves the digital audio file from the external device through the USB controller in the case that the external device is a USB device, receives song information from the external device through the serial controller and provides the device control signal to the external device so as to let the external device be driven in response to the device control signal in the case that the external device is not a USB device.

6. A USB/UART common communication system comprising:

a connector which provides an interface to an external device, the connector having signal lines (D+_RXD, D−

_TXD);

an analog switch which selects one of UART data signal lines (UART_TXD, UART_RXD) and USB data signal lines (USB_HD+, USB_HD−

) with respect to the signal lines (D+_RXD, D−

_TXD) of the connector according to a selection control signal; and

a system controller which sets the UART data signal lines as GPIO ports so as to read a signal level of the UART data signal lines, detects whether the connector is connected to a UART or a USB according to a reading result, sets the UART data signal lines as UART ports interconnects the UART data signal lines and the connector signal lines in response to the selection control signal so as to perform UART communication in the case that a UART connection signal is detected, and establishes a connection between the USB data signal lines and the connector signal lines through the analog switch so as to perform USB communication in the case that a USB connection signal is detected.

7. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 6,

wherein when the D+_RXD signal line is HIGH and the D−

_TXD signal line is LOW, it is determined that the USB is connected to the connector.

8. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 6,

wherein when the D−

_TXD signal line is HIGH and the D+_RXD signal line is LOW, it is determined that the UART is connected to the connector.

9. A USB/UART common communication system comprising:

a connector which provides an interface to an external device, the connector having first signal line ports (GPIO_TXD, GPIO_USB_HD+) and second signal line ports (GPIO_RXD, GPIO_USB_HD−

) connected to signal line data (D+, D−

); and

a system controller which sets the first and second signal line ports as GPIO ports so as to read a signal level of UART data signal lines, detects whether the connector is connected to a UART or a USB according to a reading result, sets the signal line ports (GPIO_TXD, GPIO_RXD) as UART ports and performs UART communication in the case that a UART connection signal is detected, and sets the signal line ports (GPIO_USB_HD+, GPIO_USB_HD−

) as USB ports and performs USB communication.

10. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 9,

wherein when the second signal line port (GPIO_RXD) is HIGH and the first signal line port (GPIO_TXD) is LOW, it is determined that the UART is connected to the connector.

11. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 9,

wherein when the first signal line port (GPIO_TXD) is HIGH and the second signal line port (GPIO_RXD) is LOW, it is determined that the USB is connected to the connector.

12. A USB/UART common communication system comprising:

a connector which provides an interface to an external device, the connector having signal lines (D+_RXD, D−

_TXD);

an analog switch which is connected to GPIO detection signal lines (GPIO_A, GPIO_B), UART data signal lines (UART_TXD, UART_RXD), and USB data signal lines (USB_HD+, USB_HD−

), and selects one of the GPIO detection signal lines, the UART data signal lines, and the USB data signal lines with respect to the connector signal lines according to a selection control signal; and

a system controller which reads a signal level of the connector signal lines, detects whether the connector is connected to a UART or a USB according to a reading result, interconnects the UART data signal lines and the connector signal lines according to the selection control signal so as to perform UART communication in the case that a UART connection signal is detected, and interconnects the USB data signal lines and the connector signal lines through the analog switch so as to perform USB communication in the case that a USB connection signal is detected.

13. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 12,

wherein when the GPIO detection signal line (GPIO_B) is HIGH and the GPIO detection signal line (GPIO_A) is LOW, it is determined that the UART is connected to the connector.

14. The USB/UART common communication system according to claim 12,

wherein when the GPIO detection signal line (GPIO_A) is HIGH and the GPIO detection signal line (GPIO_B) is LOW, it is determined that the USB is connected to the connector.