Backward compatible extended USB plug and receptacle with dual personality
First Claim
1. A multi-personality serial-bus interface comprising:
- dual-personality socket compatible with a standard-protocol plug and an extended-protocol plug, the dual-personality socket including a socket substrate to define a socket cavity to accept one of a standard-protocol plug and an extended-protocol plug, the dual-personality socket further including standard metal contacts that make contact with the standard-protocol plug and extended metal contacts that make contact with the extended-protocol plug but do not make contact with the standard-protocol plug;
a standard-protocol processor, coupled to the standard metal contacts, for generating and receiving signals using a standard protocol for transmission through the dual-personality socket;
an extended-protocol processor, coupled to the extended metal contacts, for generating and receiving signals using an extended protocol for transmission through the dual-personality socket;
a multi-personality bus switch to connect the extended metal contacts to the extended-protocol processor means when operating in a first extended mode, and to disconnect the extended metal contacts when operating in a standard mode; and
program for executing an initialization program that initially sends and receives commands using the standard protocol through the standard-protocol processor, but switches from the standard mode to the first extended mode to send and receive commands using the extended protocol through the extended-protocol processor when the extended-protocol plug is detected,wherein communication through the dual-personality socket to the extended-protocol plug initially uses the standard metal contacts, but switches to using the extended metal contacts.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An extended Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) connector plug and socket each have a pin substrate with one surface that supports the four metal contact pins for the standard USB interface. An extension of the pin substrate carries another 8 extension metal contact pins that mate when both the connector plug and socket are extended. The extension can be an increased length of the plug'"'"'s and socket'"'"'s pin substrate or a reverse side of the substrate. Standard USB connectors do not make contact with the extension metal contacts that are recessed, retracted by a mechanical switch, or on the extension of the socket'"'"'s pin substrate that a standard USB connector cannot reach. Standard USB sockets do not make contact with the extension metal contacts because the extended connector'"'"'s extension contacts are recessed, or on the extension of the connector pin substrate that does not fit inside a standard USB socket.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A multi-personality serial-bus interface comprising:
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dual-personality socket compatible with a standard-protocol plug and an extended-protocol plug, the dual-personality socket including a socket substrate to define a socket cavity to accept one of a standard-protocol plug and an extended-protocol plug, the dual-personality socket further including standard metal contacts that make contact with the standard-protocol plug and extended metal contacts that make contact with the extended-protocol plug but do not make contact with the standard-protocol plug; a standard-protocol processor, coupled to the standard metal contacts, for generating and receiving signals using a standard protocol for transmission through the dual-personality socket; an extended-protocol processor, coupled to the extended metal contacts, for generating and receiving signals using an extended protocol for transmission through the dual-personality socket; a multi-personality bus switch to connect the extended metal contacts to the extended-protocol processor means when operating in a first extended mode, and to disconnect the extended metal contacts when operating in a standard mode; and program for executing an initialization program that initially sends and receives commands using the standard protocol through the standard-protocol processor, but switches from the standard mode to the first extended mode to send and receive commands using the extended protocol through the extended-protocol processor when the extended-protocol plug is detected, wherein communication through the dual-personality socket to the extended-protocol plug initially uses the standard metal contacts, but switches to using the extended metal contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification