Adapter for electronic devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An adapter for providing a communication path between a portable electronic device and an accessory, the adapter comprising:
- a first connector to mate with a plug connector on a first device;
a second connector that is incompatible with the first connector, the second connector being configured to mate with a receptacle connector on a second device in either of two orientations rotated 180 degrees from each other, the second connector including a first set of eight external contacts spaced apart along a first row on a first side of the second connector and a second set of eight external contacts spaced apart along a second row on a second side of the second connector opposite the first side, the first set of contacts including first and second data contacts coupled to first and second data contacts, respectively, in the second set of contacts; and
conversion circuitry configured to convert signals received from the first device to a format that can be transmitted to and processed by the second device and to convert signals received from the second device to a format that can be transmitted to and processed by the first device;
identification circuitry configured to indicate a communication protocol used by the first and second data contacts to the second device; and
authentication circuitry configured to implement a first level of authentication that authenticates the adapter to the second device and, if the first level of authentication is successful, implement a second level of authentication that authenticates the first device to the adapter.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adapter for connecting an accessory to a portable electronic device includes a first connector compatible with a connector of the portable electronic device and a second connector compatible with a connector of the accessory. The connectors of the accessory and the portable electronic device are otherwise incompatible with each other. The adapter provides two levels of authentication. First, the adapter authenticates itself to the portable electronic device. If this first authentication is successful, then the adapter authenticates the accessory to the adapter.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An adapter for providing a communication path between a portable electronic device and an accessory, the adapter comprising:
-
a first connector to mate with a plug connector on a first device; a second connector that is incompatible with the first connector, the second connector being configured to mate with a receptacle connector on a second device in either of two orientations rotated 180 degrees from each other, the second connector including a first set of eight external contacts spaced apart along a first row on a first side of the second connector and a second set of eight external contacts spaced apart along a second row on a second side of the second connector opposite the first side, the first set of contacts including first and second data contacts coupled to first and second data contacts, respectively, in the second set of contacts; and conversion circuitry configured to convert signals received from the first device to a format that can be transmitted to and processed by the second device and to convert signals received from the second device to a format that can be transmitted to and processed by the first device; identification circuitry configured to indicate a communication protocol used by the first and second data contacts to the second device; and authentication circuitry configured to implement a first level of authentication that authenticates the adapter to the second device and, if the first level of authentication is successful, implement a second level of authentication that authenticates the first device to the adapter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An adapter for providing a communication path between a portable electronic device and an accessory, the adapter comprising:
-
a first connector to mate with a plug connector on a first device, the first receptacle connector having thirty contacts including a first pair of USB differential data contacts, a first power contact and left and right audio contacts; a second connector that is incompatible with the first connector, the second connector being configured to mate with a receptacle connector on a second device in either of two orientations rotated 180 degrees from each other, the second connector including a first set of eight external contacts spaced apart along a first row on a first side of the second connector and a second set of eight external contacts spaced apart along a second row on a second side of the second connector opposite the first side, wherein each contact in the first set of contacts is coupled to a contact in the second set of contacts and the first set of contacts includes a second pair of USB differential data contacts and a second power contact; identification circuitry configured to indicate to the second device a communication protocol used by at least some contacts in the second connector; authentication circuitry configured to implement a first level of authentication that authenticates the adapter to the second device and, if the first level of authentication is successful, implement a second level of authentication that authenticates the first device to the adapter; and conversion circuitry configured to, if the first and second levels of authentication are successfully implemented;
(i) convert audio signals received from the first device over the left and right audio contacts to a format that can be transmitted to and processed by the second device, convert audio signals received from the second device to a format that can be transmitted over the left and right audio contacts to and processed by the first device, (ii) exchange data between the first and second devices over the first and second pairs of USB differential data contacts, and (iii) enable a power path between the first and second devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of using an adapter to enable an accessory electronic device having a first connector to exchange data with a host electronic device having a second connector that is incompatible with the first connector, the method comprising:
-
sending identification and authentication information from the adapter to the host device to enable the host to perform a first level of authentication that authenticates the adapter to host device upon mating a plug connector on the adapter to the second connector of the host device; if the adapter is successfully authenticated by the host device, receiving identification and authentication information from the accessory and performing a second level of authentication at the adapter to authenticate an accessory electronic device connected to the adapter; and after the first and second levels of authentication are successfully completed, enabling a power path between the accessory device and the host device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification