USB host determination of whether a USB device provides power via a USB coupling

• US 9,122,813 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smsc Holdings Sarl (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Smsc Holdings Sarl (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oljaca, Miroslav, Knowlton, Timothy J., Xia, Xiaoliang
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCHE, JOHN B
• Application Number:
  US13/413,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 710/15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]

Abstract

System and method for a USB host to determine whether or not a USB device provides power via a USB coupling between the USB host and the USB device. At a first time, it may be determined that the USB device is coupled to the USB host via a USB coupling and does not provide power. Power may be provided to the USB device via the USB coupling. At a second time it may be determined that the USB device does provide power via the USB coupling. Power may no longer be provided to the USB device via the USB coupling after it is determined that the USB device does provide power via the USB coupling. A battery of the USB host may be charged using power provided by the USB device via the USB coupling based on determining that the USB device does provide power via the USB coupling.

Claims

1. A system configured to act as a USB host, comprising:

a battery;

a USB charging port for coupling to USB devices;

device logic,

wherein the device logic is configured to;

determine that a USB device is coupled to the USB charging port, thereby providing a USB coupling between the USB host and the USB device;

determine whether the USB device is providing power via the USB coupling, wherein the USB host detects a change in current direction on a Vbus line of the USB coupling; and

based on detecting a change in current direction on the Vbus line, the USB host compares the voltage provided by the Vbus line and a voltage available from the USB host to detect a back drive indication;

if determined that the USB device is not providing power, the device logic is further configured to;

determine a power level for providing power to the USB device wherein the power level is determined based on one or more handshake procedures; and

provide power at the determined power level to the USB device via the USB coupling;

if determined that the USB device is providing power, the device logic is further configured to;

determine whether the power provided by the USB device can be used to charge the battery of the USB host; and

based on determining that the power provided by the USB device can be used to charge the battery of the USB host, charge the battery using power provided by the USB device via the USB coupling.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein in order to determine whether the USB device is providing power via the USB coupling, the device logic is configured to:

couple a Vbus line of the USB coupling to a current discharger, wherein the current discharger is configured to discharge current on the Vbus line of the USB coupling such that if the USB device does not provide power via the USB coupling, voltage on the Vbus line of the USB coupling will fall below a first threshold within a first period of time after coupling the Vbus line of the USB coupling to the current discharger;

measure voltage on the Vbus line of the USB coupling for the first period of time; and

determine that voltage on the Vbus line of the USB coupling has fallen below the first threshold during the first period of time.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein if voltage on the Vbus line of the USB coupling does not fall below the first threshold during the first period of time, the device logic is configured to determine that the USB device does provide power via the USB coupling.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the USB device does provide power via the USB coupling as a result of being coupled to an external power source.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the device logic is further configured to:

measure one or more of a voltage or a current of power provided by the USB device via the USB coupling; and

determine whether the power provided by the USB device via the USB coupling is suitable for use by the system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a tablet computer, wherein the USB device is a docking station.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the device logic is configured to provide power from the battery to the USB device via the USB coupling.

8. A method for a USB host to determine whether or not a USB device provides power via a USB coupling between the USB host and the USB device, the method comprising:

determining that the USB device is coupled to the USB host via a USB coupling;

determining whether the USB device is providing power via the USB coupling, wherein the USB host detects a change in current direction on a Vbus line of the USB coupling, and based on detecting a change in current direction on the Vbus line, the USB host compares the voltage provided by the Vbus line and a voltage available from the USB host to detect a back drive indication;

if determined that the USB device is not providing power, the method further comprising;

determining a power level for providing power to the USB device wherein the power level is determined based on one or more handshake procedures; and

providing power at the determined power level to the USB device via the USB coupling;

if determined that the USB device is providing power, the method further comprising;

determining whether the power provided by the USB device can be used to charge a battery of the USB host; and

based on determining that the power provided by the USB device can be used to charge the battery of the USB host, charging the battery of the USB host using power provided by the USB device via the USB coupling.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether the USB device is providing power via the USB coupling comprises:

coupling a Vbus line of the USB coupling to a current discharger, wherein the current discharger is configured to discharge current on the Vbus line of the USB coupling such that if the USB device does not provide power via the USB coupling, voltage on the Vbus line of the USB coupling will fall below a first threshold within a first period of time after coupling the Vbus line of the USB coupling to the current discharger;

measuring voltage on the Vbus line of the USB coupling for the first period of time; and

determining that voltage on the Vbus line of the USB coupling has fallen below the first threshold during the first period of time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein if voltage on the Vbus line of the USB coupling does not fall below the first threshold during the first period of time, it is determined that the USB device does provide power via the USB coupling.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the USB device does provide power via the USB coupling as a result of being coupled to an external power source at the second time.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising measuring one or more of a voltage or a current of power provided by the USB device via the USB coupling;

and determine whether the power provided by the USB device via the USB coupling is suitable for use by the system.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the USB host is a tablet computer, wherein the USB device is a docking station.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said providing power to the USB device via the USB coupling comprises providing power from the battery of the USB host.

15. A system configured to act as a USB host, comprising:

a battery;

a USB charging port for coupling to USB devices;

device logic,

wherein the device logic is configured to;

determine that a USB device is coupled to the USB charging port, thereby providing a first USB coupling between the USB host and the USB device;

determine whether the USB device is providing power via the USB coupling wherein the USB host detects a change in current direction on a Vbus line of the USB coupling and the USB host compares the voltage provided by the Vbus line and a voltage available by the USB host to detect a back drive indication;

if determined that the USB device is not providing power, the device logic is further configured to;

determine a power level for providing power to the USB device wherein the power level is determined based on one or more handshake procedures; and

provide power at the determined power level to the USB device via the first USB coupling;

if determined that the USB device is providing power, the device logic is further configured to;

determine whether the power provided by the USB device can be used to charge the battery of the USB host; and

based on determining that the power provided by the USB device can be used to charge the battery of the USB host, charge the battery using power provided by the USB device via the USB coupling.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein upon determining that a USB device is coupled to the USB charging port, the device logic is configured to:

couple a Vbus line of the USB coupling to a current discharger, wherein the current discharger is configured to discharge current on the Vbus line of the USB coupling such that if the USB device does not provide power via the USB coupling, voltage on the Vbus line of the USB coupling will fall below a first threshold within a first period of time after coupling the Vbus line of the USB coupling to the current discharger; and

measure voltage on the Vbus line of the USB coupling for the first period of time;

wherein if voltage on the Vbus line of the USB coupling falls below the first threshold during the first period of time, the device logic is configured to determine that the USB device does not provide power via the USB coupling;

wherein if voltage on the Vbus line of the USB coupling does not fall below the first threshold during the first period of time, the device logic is configured to determine that the USB device does provide power via the USB coupling.