Type A USB receptacle with plug detection

• US 7,880,475 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• 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): Nguyen; Vincent Q
• Application Number:
  US12/614,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20100057946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 324/539, 710/10, 710/16, 710/3
• US Class Current: 324/539
• 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 method of operating an electronic device having a modified universal serial bus (USB) Series A receptacle connector, the method comprising:

electronically detecting insertion of a standard USB Series A plug connector into the modified USB Series A receptacle connector while withholding VBus power to the modified USB Series A receptacle connector,

wherein the electronically detecting comprises detecting a signal from a stand-alone plug detector located on the modified USB Series A receptacle connector.

2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising:

detecting that VBus power is being supplied via the standard USB Series A plug connector; and

entering a peripheral mode of operation.

3. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising sending out a signal to identify the electronic device as a peripheral device.

4. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising:

detecting that VBus power is not supplied via the standard USB Series A plug connector; and

entering a possible host mode of operation.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein entering possible host mode includes:

supplying VBus power to the standard USB Series A plug connector for a predetermined period of time; and

detecting whether a peripheral device is coupled to the standard USB Series A plug connector.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined amount of time ranges from 100-250 milliseconds.

7. The method of claim 5 additionally comprising:

detecting that a peripheral device is coupled to the standard USB Series A plug connector; and

supplying VBus power to the standard USB Series A plug connector until the standard USB Series A plug connector is disconnected.

8. The method of claim 7, additionally comprising:

waiting a second predetermined amount of time; and

transmitting communication signals to the standard USB Series A plug connector.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation of electronically detecting insertion of the standard USB Series A plug connector comprises grounding of a plug detector mechanism upon contact with a shell of the standard USB Series A plug connector.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a modified USB Series A receptacle connector including a plurality of receptacle contact pins and a plug detector separate from the plurality of receptacle contact pins,

wherein the modified USB Series A receptacle connector is configured to electronically detect, via the plug detector, insertion of a standard USB Series A plug connector while power is being withheld from the modified USB Series A receptacle connector.