×

Techniques for monitoring contacts in a connector

  • US 9,146,888 B2
  • Filed: 07/03/2013
  • Issued: 09/29/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An accessory configured to charge a host device, the accessory comprising:

  • a connector having a plurality of contacts, wherein the plurality of contacts includes at least one power contact and at least one data contact and wherein the connector is configured to couple the accessory to a host device; and

    power control circuitry coupled to the connector, the power control circuitry providing first, second and third modes of operation that determine current and voltage provided to the power contact, wherein in the first mode of operation current provided to the power contact is limited to a first current level and voltage at the power contact is limited to a first voltage level, in the second mode of operation current provided to the power contact is limited to the first current level and voltage at the power contact is increased from the first voltage level to a second voltage level, and in the third mode of operation, current provided to the power contact is increased from the first current level to a second current level while voltage at the power contact is maintained at or above the second voltage level to charge the host device;

    wherein the power control circuitry is configured to operate in the first mode of operation upon start-up of the accessory, switch to the second mode of operation when the accessory is connected to a host device by the connector, and switch to the third mode of operation upon successful authentication of the accessory by the host device.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×