Port power controller for USB hubs with legacy battery charge support

• US 8,055,919 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2009
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Standard Microsystems Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Magnusson, Hans L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, ALBERT C
• Application Number:
  US12/367,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20100205463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 455/573, 710/8, 710/10, 713/300
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

A system and method for efficient power management of peripheral port connections. A USB hub core is configured to detect the presence of a legacy peripheral device on a downstream port when a corresponding USB host is in a non-operational state. The USB hub core chooses a battery charger signature for the peripheral device and subsequently directs an external port power controller to simulate disconnection/reconnection of the peripheral device. The chosen signature is presented to the peripheral device. If the signature matches the expected value of the peripheral device, then the peripheral device charges its battery. Otherwise, the process of choosing a different signature and simulating disconnection/reconnection is repeated.

Claims

1. An interface unit comprising:

interface circuitry including one or more data lines and at least one power line; and

power management circuitry configured to control a supply of power to the at least one power line; and

wherein in response to detecting a device has been connected to the interface circuitry, the interface unit is configured to;

convey a first signature to the device via the one or more data lines; and

in response to determining a predetermined response to the first signature is not received from the device;

remove power from the power line;

restore power to the power line at a first predetermined time subsequent to removing said power; and

convey a second signature different from the first signature to the device at a second predetermined time subsequent to restoring said power.

2. The interface unit as recited in claim 1, wherein determining said predetermined response is not received comprises determining current consumption is below a predetermined threshold on the power line at a third predetermined time subsequent to the conveying the first signature to the device.

3. The interface unit as recited in claim 2, wherein detecting a device has been connected to the interface circuitry comprises detecting the assertion of a previously unasserted data line of at least one of said data lines.

4. The interface unit as recited in claim 3, wherein in response to a match of a signature conveyed by the interface unit to a signature of the device, the power management controller is further configured to charge a battery corresponding to the device with current supplied by the power line.

5. The interface unit as recited in claim 4, wherein the interface unit is configured to receive power from a power supply reference, and wherein the power management controller is further configured to drive and detect voltage levels on said plurality of data lines which are different from said power supply reference.

6. The interface unit as recited in claim 4, wherein the device is a non-enumerated Universal Serial Bus (USB) peripheral device.

7. The interface unit as recited in claim 4, wherein the interface circuitry is further configured to couple the device to a computing system in a non-operational state.

8. The interface unit as recited in claim 7, wherein the non-operational state comprises at least one of the following:

suspend, hibernate, or mechanical off.

9. An interfacing system method, the method comprising:

controlling a supply of power to at least one power line; and

in response to detecting a device has been connected to interface circuitry including one or more data lines and the at least one power line;

conveying a first signature to the device via the one or more data lines; and

in response to determining a predetermined response to the first signature is not received from the device;

removing power from the power line;

restoring power to the power line at a first predetermined time subsequent to removing said power; and

conveying a second signature different from the first signature to the device at a second predetermined time subsequent to restoring said power.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein determining said predetermined response is not received comprises determining current consumption is below a predetermined threshold on the power line at a third predetermined time subsequent to the conveying the first signature to the device.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein detecting a device has been connected to the interface circuitry comprises detecting the assertion of a previously unasserted data line of at least one of said data lines.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising, in response to a match of a conveyed signature to a signature of the device, charging a battery corresponding to the device with current supplied by the power line.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising driving and detecting voltage levels on said plurality of data lines which are different from a power supply reference supplying power to the at least one power line.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the device is a non-enumerated Universal Serial Bus (USB) peripheral device.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising coupling the device to a computing system in a non-operational state.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the non-operational state comprises at least one of the following:

suspend, hibernate, or mechanical off.

17. A power management controller comprising:

an interface coupled to one or more data lines and at least one power line;

a power logic unit configured to control a supply of power to the at least one power line;

wherein in response to detecting a device has been connected to the interface, the power logic unit is configured to;

convey a first signature to the device via the one or more data lines; and

in response to determining a predetermined response to the first signature is not received from the device;

remove power from the power line;

restore power to the power line at a first predetermined time subsequent to removing said power; and

convey a second signature different from the first signature to the device at a second predetermined time subsequent to restoring said power.

18. The power management controller as recited in claim 17, wherein determining said predetermined response is not received comprises determining current consumption is below a predetermined threshold on the power line at a third predetermined time subsequent to the conveying the first signature to the device.

19. The power management controller as recited in claim 18, wherein detecting a device has been connected to the interface circuitry comprises detecting the assertion of a previously unasserted data line of at least one of said data lines.

20. The power management controller as recited in claim 19, wherein in response to a match of a signature conveyed by the interface unit to a signature of the device, the power management controller is further configured to charge a battery corresponding to the device with current supplied by the power line.