Circuitry for active cable

• US 9,274,579 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cornelius, William P., Ferry, William O., Orr, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, ALBERT C
• Application Number:
  US14/218,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20140344615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/06 Clock generators producing several clock signals G06F1/08 - G06F1/14 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/045 using multiple communication channels, e.g. parallel and serial
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/10 Use of a protocol of communication by packets in interfaces along the display data pipeline
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/12 Use of DVI or HDMI protocol in interfaces along the display data pipeline
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors

Abstract

Circuits, methods, and apparatus that allow signals that are compliant with multiple standards to share a common connector on an electronic device. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a connector that provides signals compatible with a legacy standard in one mode and a newer standard in another mode.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit comprising:

a higher-speed driver having an output coupled to a first terminal of a first capacitor;

a lower-speed driver having an output coupled to a first terminal of a second capacitor;

a first diode having an anode coupled to a second terminal of the first capacitor and further coupled to receive a first bias signal;

a second diode having an anode coupled to a second terminal of the second capacitor and further coupled to receive a second bias signal; and

an output terminal coupled to a cathode of the first diode and a cathode of the second diode.

2. The electronic circuit of claim 1 wherein the first bias signal is generated by a first driver through a first resistor and the second bias signal is generated by a second driver through a second resistor.

3. The electronic circuit of claim 1 further comprising:

a first driver having an output coupled to a first terminal of a first resistor; and

a second driver having an output coupled to a first terminal of a second resistor,

wherein a second terminal of the first resistor is coupled to the anode of the first diode, and

wherein a second terminal of the second resistor is coupled to the anode of the second diode.

4. The electronic circuit of claim 3 further comprising a third resistor coupled between the output pad and ground.

5. The electronic circuit of claim 1 where the first diode and the second diodes are PIN diodes.

6. The electronic circuit of claim 5 further comprising:

an attenuator circuit between the second terminal of the second capacitor and the anode of the second diode.

7. The electronic circuit of claim 6 wherein the attenuator circuit is a resistor pi network.

8. The electronic circuit of claim 6 wherein the attenuator circuit is a resistor t-network.

9. The electronic circuit of claim 6 wherein the attenuator circuit provides 4 dB of attenuation.

10. The electronic circuit of claim 6 wherein the electronic circuit is in a connector receptacle.

11. The electronic circuit of claim 6 wherein the electronic circuit is in a connector insert.

12. An electronic circuit comprising:

a diode having a cathode coupled to an input terminal;

a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to an anode of the diode;

an input buffer having an input coupled to a second terminal of the first capacitor;

a driver having an output coupled to the anode of the diode; and

a select circuit having an input coupled to the input terminal, wherein the select circuit may selectively couple the input to a first control signal path, a second control signal path, or a path to ground.

13. The electronic circuit of claim 12 further comprising a first resistor coupled between the output of the driver and the anode of the diode.

14. The electronic circuit of claim 13 wherein the path to ground comprises a second resistor coupled to ground.

15. The electronic circuit of claim 12 further comprising a filter between the input of the select circuit and the input terminal.

16. The electronic circuit of claim 15 wherein the filter comprises an inductor between the input of the select circuit and the input terminal and a second capacitor coupled between the input of the select circuit and ground.

17. The electronic circuit of claim 12 wherein the electronic circuit is in a connector receptacle.

18. The electronic circuit of claim 12 wherein the electronic circuit is in a connector insert.

19. An electronic circuit comprising:

a first clock and data recovery circuit;

a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a an output of the first clock and data recovery circuit and a second terminal coupled to a first output terminal;

a second clock and data recovery circuit;

a second capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a an output of the second clock and data recovery circuit and a second terminal coupled to a second output terminal;

a first control signal line coupled to the first output terminal through a resistor;

a second control signal line coupled to the second output terminal through an inductor; and

a capacitor coupled between the second control line and ground.

20. The electronic circuit of claim 19 wherein the electronic circuit is in a connector insert.

21. The electronic circuit of claim 20 wherein the first output terminal is coupled to a first pin of the connector insert and the second output terminal is coupled to a second pin of the connector insert.