Detection circuit and detecting method thereof

• US 9,954,749 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2015
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Getac Technology Company Limited (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Getac Technology Company Limited (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Chen, Hung-Tu
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIS-FILS, NICOLE M
• Application Number:
  US14/660,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20160277266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 455557, 455423, 4555561, 4555621, 4555757, 379 21, 379 2601
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A detection circuit is used to detect a connection state between a first signal port of an electronic device and a first external device. The detection circuit includes a signal generator, a switch module, a signal detector, and a processing unit. The signal generator generates a test signal. During a test process, the signal generator is electrically connected to the first signal port by the switch module, such that the test signal is sent to the first signal port to test the connection state of the first signal port. The signal detector produces a detection signal according to the connection state of the first signal port. The processing unit determines the state of connection between the first signal port and the first external device by comparing the voltage of the detection signal with a threshold value.

Claims

1. A detection circuit for detecting a state of connection between a first signal port of an electronic device and a first external device, the detection circuit comprising:

a signal generator, a switch module, a signal coupling circuit, a signal detector and a processing unit,

wherein the signal generator, the switch module, the signal detector and the first signal port are electrically connected with the processing unit, the signal generator is electrically connected directly with the switch module, the switch module is electrically connected with the signal coupling circuit, the signal coupling circuit comprises a first coupler and a second coupler that has three connection ends, and is electrically connected directly with both the first signal port and the signal detector through a first connection end and a second connection end of the second coupler, and the signal coupling circuit and the signal detector are electrically connected in series between the first signal port and the processing unit; and

wherein;

upon receiving a start signal by the processing unit, the processing unit sends an enable signal to the signal generator and a control signal to the switch module,

upon receiving the enable signal, the signal generator is enabled and sends a test signal to the switch module,

upon receiving the control signal, the switch module is turned on to receive the test signal from the signal generator, and sends the received test signal to the signal coupling circuit through the first coupler, and the signal coupling circuit then sends the test signal from a third connection end of the second coupler to the first signal port,

upon receiving the test signal from the signal coupling circuit, the first signal port generates a reflect signal according to the received test signal, and sends the reflect signal through the signal coupling circuit to the signal detector,

upon receiving the reflect signal, the signal detector generates a detection signal and sends the detection signal to the processing unit, and

upon receiving the detection signal, the processing unit determines the state of connection between the first signal port of the electronic device and the first external device by comparing the detection signal with a predetermined threshold value.

2. The detection circuit of claim 1, wherein, when the processing unit determines that the voltage of the detection signal is larger than the threshold value, the processing unit sends an alert message indicative of the abnormal connection state.

3. The detection circuit of claim 1, wherein the processing unit converts the detection signal into a digital signal value, and the processing unit sends an alert message indicative of the abnormal connection state when the processing unit determines that the digital signal value is larger than the threshold value.

4. The detection circuit of claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for storing the threshold value, and after retrieving the threshold value from the storage unit, the processing unit determines the state of connection between the first signal port and the first external device according to the detection signal and the threshold value.

5. The detection circuit of claim 1, wherein, after determining the state of connection between the first signal port and the first external device, the processing unit sends a disable signal for shutting down the signal generator and turning off the switch module, such that the signal generator fails to turn on the first signal port and thereby ends the test process.

6. The detection circuit of claim 1, further comprising

a wireless signal transceiving circuit electrically connected to the first signal port through the signal coupling circuit.

7. The detection circuit of claim 6, wherein the wireless signal transceiving circuit is a wireless network module, a mobile network module, a global positioning system (GPS) module, or a combination thereof.

8. The detection circuit of claim 5, further comprising:

a second signal port adapted to electrically connect with a second external device; and

a signal coupling circuit coupled among the second signal port, the first signal port, and the signal detector.

9. The detection circuit of claim 8, wherein the signal coupling circuit comprises:

a first coupler coupled between the second signal port and the switch module; and

a second coupler coupled among the first coupler, the first signal port, and the signal detector.

10. The detection circuit of claim 8, wherein the first external device and the second external device are provided in form of an external antenna and a wireless signal transceiving circuit of an external electronic device, respectively, wherein the wireless signal transceiving circuit is a wireless network module, a mobile network module, a global positioning system (GPS) module, or a combination thereof.

11. The detection circuit of claim 8, wherein, after the processing unit determines the state of connection between the first signal port and the first external device, the processing unit further controls the switch module to turn on the signal generator and the second signal port;

meanwhile the signal detector further receives a reflection signal attributed to the test signal reflected off the second signal port, and then the processing unit compares the voltage of the reflection signal with the other threshold value to determine a state of matching between the second signal port and the second external device.

12. The detection circuit of claim 11, wherein, after determining that, the processing unit sends an alert message indicative of the abnormal matching state when the processing unit determines that the voltage of the reflection signal is larger than the other threshold value.

13. The detection circuit of claim 11, wherein, after determining the state of the matching between the second signal port and the second external device, the processing unit sends a disable signal for shutting down the signal generator and turning off the switch module, such that both of the first signal port and the second signal port fail to turn on the signal generator, and thereby ends the test process.

14. A detecting method for detecting a state of connection between a first signal port in an electronic device and a first external device, the detection circuit comprising a signal generator, a switch module, a signal coupling circuit, a signal detector and a processing unit, wherein the signal generator is electrically connected directly with the switch module, the signal coupling circuit comprises a first coupler and a second coupler that has three connection ends and is electrically connected directly with both the first signal port and the signal detector through a first connection end and a second connection end of the second coupler, and the signal coupling circuit and the signal detector are electrically connected in series between the first signal port and the processing unit, and the detecting method comprising the steps of:

generating, by the signal generator, a test signal;

sending the test signal, by the signal generator and via the switch module and through the first coupler of the signal coupling circuit, to the first signal port from a third connection end of the second coupler and test the state of connection of the first signal port in a test process;

producing a detection signal, by the signal detector, according to the state of connection of the first signal port; and

determining, by the processing unit, the state of connection between the first signal port and the first external device according to a result of comparison between a voltage of the detection signal and a threshold value.

15. The detecting method of claim 14, wherein the determining step further comprises:

comparing the voltage of the detection signal with the threshold value; and

sending an alert message indicative of the abnormal connection state when the voltage of the detection signal is larger than the threshold value.

16. The detecting method of claim 14, wherein the determining step further comprises:

converting the detection signal into a digital signal value;

comparing the digital signal value with the threshold value; and

sending an alert message indicative of the abnormal connection state when the digital signal value is larger than the threshold value.

17. The detecting method of claim 16, further comprising, after the determining step, stopping generating the test signal such that the first signal port is turned off, and thereby ends the test process.

18. The detecting method of claim 14, wherein after the determining step further comprises the steps of:

turning on a second signal port and the test signal is sent to the second signal port;

receiving a reflection signal attributed to the test signal reflected off the second signal port; and

comparing a voltage of the reflection signal with the other threshold value to determine a state of matching between the second signal port and a second external device.

19. The detecting method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining the state of the matching between the second signal port and the second external device further comprises:

sending an alert message indicative of the abnormal matching state when the voltage of the reflection signal is larger than the other threshold value.

20. The detecting method of claim 18, further comprising, after the step of determining the state of the matching between the second signal port and the second external device, stopping generating the test signal such that both of the first signal port and the second signal port are turned off, and thereby ends the test process.