Portable electronic device comprising common serial bus connector

• US 20010005641A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 06/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xacti Corporation (Office Support KK)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Katsuyuki, Yoshida, Masanao
• Granted Patent: US 6,904,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling

Abstract

A portable electronic device according to the invention comprises a USB connector 4, a USB controller 6 for executing predetermined data communication processing attendant on data communication with a personal computer 2 connected to the USB connector 4, and a main CPU 7 for executing device operation processing for the usual operation of the device, and is adapted to receive a power supply from the personal computer 2 or an external power source 3 as connected to the USB connector 4. Discriminating between the sources of supply of power, the main CPU 7 causes the USB controller 6 to execute the predetermined data communication processing while power is supplied from the personal computer 2, or executes the usual device operation processing while power is supplied from the external power source 3. This assures more rapid and simplified processing even when the USB connector is used also as a connector for the external power source.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising a common serial bus connector provided with data terminals and a power supply terminal in compliance with a common serial bus standard for connecting a plurality of peripheral devices in common to a host information processing device, a common serial bus controller for executing predetermined data communication processing attendant on data communication with an information processing device connected to the common serial bus connector, and a control circuit connected to the common serial bus controller for executing device operation processing for the usual operation of the electronic device, the electronic device being capable of receiving a power supply from the information processing device or an external power source as connected to the common serial bus connector or from an internal power source, the portable electronic device being characterized in that the control circuit discriminates among the sources of supply of power and causes the common serial bus controller to execute the predetermined data communication processing while power is supplied from the information processing device, or executes the usual device operation processing while power is supplied from the external power source or the internal power source.

2. A portable electronic device according to

claim 1

wherein the control circuit comprises discriminating means for judging which of the information processing device and the external power source is connected to the common serial bus connector, and control means for causing the common serial bus controller to execute the predetermined data communication processing when the connection of the information processing device to the common serial bus connector is recognized, or executes the usual device operation processing when the connection of the external power source to the common serial bus connector is recognized.

3. A portable electronic device according to

claim 2

wherein the discriminating means identifies the source of supply of power based on the voltage value of the power supply terminal of the common serial bus connector.

4. A portable electronic device according to

claim 2

wherein the discriminating means identifies the source of supply of power depending on whether the common serial bus controller has started data communication via the common serial bus connector.

5. A portable electronic device according to

claim 2

wherein the control circuit further comprises means for detecting the connection of the information processing device or the external power source to the common serial bus connector based on the binary state of voltage level of the power supply terminal thereof, and the discriminating means identifies the source of supply of power according to the result of detection.