Portable device having plug detector and control method of detecting the portable device

• US 7,970,973 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transcend Information Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Transcend Information Incorporated
• Inventors: Shu, Chung-Won, Fang, Wen-Jeng, Chen, Tsang-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Spittle; Matthew D
• Application Number:
  US12/626,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20110113174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 710/301, 710/302, 200 51- 52, 439/173, 439/188, 439/489
• US Class Current: 710/301
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004

Abstract

A reciprocating plug detector is configured at the connector of a portable device and is pushed to generate a control signal when the portable device is plugged into a host system. A controller of the portable device then performs a command when receiving the control signal. When the portable device is unplugged from the host system, the reciprocating plug detector may also be used for generating the control signal and before the portable device totally leaves the host system, the controller performs other pre-defined command during these few milliseconds. The portable device is implemented with a variety of computer controllability and provided with power-failure protection for data.

Claims

1. A portable device having plug detector, the portable device being used for electrically connecting to a first connector of a host system where the first connector comprises an actuator, the portable device comprising:

a second connector for plugging into the first connector such that the portable device is electrically connected to the host system, the second connector comprising a data pin;

a reciprocating plug detector configured at the second connector for being pushed by the actuator and for generating a control signal when the actuator stops pushing the reciprocating detector, the reciprocating plug detector distancing the data pin along a first direction from no less than 3.2 mm; and

a controller electrically connected to the reciprocating plug detector for performing a command when receiving the control signal generated by the reciprocating plug detector.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is either a protrusion of the first connector or the housing of the host system.

3. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the second connector comprises a power pin and a ground pin, and the reciprocating plug detector distances the power pin and the ground pin along the first direction from no less than the distance defined by USB standard.

4. The portable device of claim 3, wherein the reciprocating plug detector distances the power pin and the ground pin along the first direction from no less than 4.2 mm.

5. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating plug detector distances the data pin along the first direction from no less than the distance defined by USB standard.

6. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating plug detector generates the control signal when pushed by the actuator.

7. The portable device of claim 6, further comprising a power unit wherein the command is switching the supply of power for the portable device from the power unit to the host system.

8. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the command comprises at least one of the following commands:

terminating a background program of the portable device, activating a power unit to supply power to the portable device, commanding the host system to shutdown, commanding a sound unit of the portable device or of the host system to generate sounds, and commanding a display unit of the portable device or of the host system to display.

9. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a general purpose I/O (GPIO) signal.

10. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating plug detector is either a button or a circular housing of the portable device.

11. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating plug detector extends at the side of the second connector with length along the first direction no less than the distance defined by USB standard.

12. The portable device of claim 11, wherein the reciprocating plug detector extends at the side of the second connector with length along the first direction no less than 2.67 mm.

13. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is the housing of a USB female plug.