Patent Application
20250062579
In electronic devices, there are many applications in which one device needs to be plugged into another device for operation. For example, a USB device plugged into a PC, or a dongle plugged into a base station. In most of the applications, data communication between the two devices is required. For many applications, the signal pin-out is well defined; mechanical and electronic characteristics of the connectors are clear and standardized. For example, the USB connector is standardized. However, for some specific applications, the data connection pins are not straightforward and difficult to implement. One typical example is a USB hub which is connected to a PC. It has USB connectors for a USB dongle, and can have a HDMI connector and an AUX connector for an audio connection. Inside is an expensive USB docking IC or USB hub IC.
For a USB-C audio dongle plugged into a USB-A adaptor, most applications are only used for simple connector type change from USB-C to USB-A. In such applications, many USB-C signal pins are not included in USB-A spec so these signals are simply cut, and the signal transmission is simple and straightforward. However, for additional signal input or output from the extra connector on the USB-A adaptor to the USB-C signals, the signal connection is more complicated. Signals from the USB-C connector are in the form of serial USB data, which are transmitted via D+ and D-data pins. Signals from the connectors may be in the form of analog signals or other digital formats. It is desirable to have a better method and system for making such connections.
Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Embodiments provide a system for connecting disparate communication interfaces. The system includes a dongle and an adaptor. The dongle includes a dongle connector for connecting to a port of a first interface type, a controller, an input connected to the controller for providing a signal to the controller indicating the connection of a third interface type, a conductor for connecting to the third interface type without interfering with the dongle connector connecting with only the port of the first interface type, and a memory with a non-transitory, computer readable media with instructions for combining signals of the first and third interface types. The memory may be embedded in the controller. The adaptor includes a first adaptor port of the first interface type, an adaptor connector for connecting to a port of a second interface type, an electrical connection between the first adaptor port and the adaptor connector, and a second adaptor port for receiving a connector of the third interface type, and circuitry for connecting the second adaptor port to the dongle.
In embodiments, the first interface type is USB-C, the second interface type is USB-A and the third interface type is an analog audio. In an alternate embodiment the 3rd interface includes a digital data bus (e.g., I2S digital audio bus, I2C digital control bus, or TX/RX bus which can be used for firmware programming), or a connector for sensors.
In embodiments, the controller includes an analog to digital converter for converting an analog signal of the third interface type into a digital signal. Alternately, the third interface may provide programming or data signals.
In embodiments, the adaptor includes a protruding member, or key, for engaging a recess in the dongle to activate a contact to indicate the connection of a connector of the third interface type. The recess is positioned separate from the dongle connector, so as to not interfere with a connection to a first interface type port. By using a recess, interference with connecting to a first interface type port, instead of the adaptor, is avoided.
This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this disclosure, any or all drawings, and each claim.
The foregoing, together with other features and examples, will be described in more detail below in the following specification, claims, and accompanying drawings.
Aspects and features of the various embodiments will be more apparent by describing examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
While certain embodiments are described, these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. The apparatuses and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the example methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the scope of protection.
This invention is related to a method for data transmission between the two devices, with one device (e.g., a dongle) plugged into the other device (e.g., an adaptor). An embodiment can be explained with the example of a USB-C dongle plugged into a USB-A adaptor. There are 24 signal pins inside a USB-C connector; but only 4 pins for a FS/HS USB-A connector and 9 pins for super speed USB-A connector. Therefore, many pins are unused in the USB-C connector when inside a standard USB-A adaptor. These unused pins will be utilized in the method described in this patent application.
In this method, unused pins in the original connector are used for the additional connector signal connection. No additional IC nor additional signal metal contacts are required, which largely saves the cost and design complexity. This method can be applied to other general plug-in device applications; it is not limited by the USB-C dongle to USB-A adaptor example.
A port 122 allows connection of a connector of a third interface type (e.g. an analog audio input or additional control or data input, such as an RS-232 connector). When such a connection is made, a signal propagates along lines 124 to a switch 126. The connection of the dongle to the adaptor is communicated to the dongle via a key 130 which extends into a recessed contact 132, and activates a mechanical switch which provides a connection signal to a dongle switch 134. Alternately, key 130 can have an electrical contact at its end connected to a conductor line 128. Switch 126 provides a control signal on line 128 indicating that an input is present on port 122. This control signal is then directed to dongle switch 134, without the need for a mechanical switch. In one example, the “jack detection” pin in the audio aux connector provides a signal on port 122 that is detected by switch 126. It can signal the presence of the aux jack plugged in (by a voltage high active or low active signal).
Switch 126 also provides the data from port 122 on lines 140 to the lines of connector 104 that are not used for the USB-A port. These lines are connected to lines 138 internal to dongle 102. Internal dongle switch 134 then provides the data on lines 144 to controller 116. When the input is analog, the analog data is provided to an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) 142 in controller 106. Alternatively, the ADC could be external to the controller.
When dongle 102 is plugged into a normal USB-C port, there will be no adaptor port 122 and no protruding key 130 to trigger contact 132, and thus no signal to dongle switch 134. As a result, switch 134 will couple the data on lines 138 to internal lines 136 connected to the normal USB-C input/outputs of controller 116. Thus, lines 136 plus lines 118 form all the normal USB-C connector lines. Because contact 132 is recessed, it will not interfere with the connection of dongle 102 to a standard, normal USB-C port. A program for controlling controller 116, along with wireless transmitter 114 and switch 134, is stored in a memory 146. Memory 146 includes a non-transitory, computer readable media with instructions for controlling the connections and signal conversions described herein.
In one embodiment, the controller is a wireless audio IC (for example, a Bluetooth audio controller). The analog audio signal from 122 to 124 to 140 to 138 to 142 is converted into digital audio data, and then it's mixed with the Bluetooth digital audio data before transmitting to a wireless headset for playback.
In an alternate embodiment, the recessed contact 130 and protruding key 132 are swapped between the dongle and the adaptor. In this embodiment, the protruding key is part of dongle 102, and the recessed contact is part of adaptor 108. While a particular switch design with a protruding key and recess are shown, variations are possible. For example, a push button switch like switch 154 could be used at the end of the recess, instead of a swingable switch on the side. Also, a swingable switch could be used instead of the depressible button switch 154 in adaptor 108.
In one embodiment, the audio source is the audio output from a game machine aux port, e.g., the Nintendo Switch. In this example, the user can keep the host 206 audio connected while hearing the game play through the aux. Another example is the analog audio output from a TV during game playing. The host 206 is the game console (for example, PS5) connected to the TV, which provides the game chatting audio through the USB port and the game background audio signal to the TV. These two signals can be mixed together in the dongle for the game player. The game console PS and XBOX produce two audio signals, a game audio and a game chat, during the game. In contrast, the SONY PS5 allows only game chat audio data to be connected to the USB audio for non-SONY headsets.
A second host 210 is shown, with a standard USB-C port. Dongle 102 could be plugged into this host without contact 132 of
As in
Switch 126 also provides the data from port 122 on lines 140 to the lines of connector 104 that are not used for the USB-A port. These lines are connected to lines 138 internal to dongle 102. Internal dongle switch 134 then provides the data on lines 144 to controller 116. When the input is analog, the analog data is provided to an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) 142 in controller 106.
As in the embodiments of
There is some risk that contact 402 may be mistakenly activated when the USB-C dongle is used without the adaptor to connect to a standard USB-C port. For example, the user's hand with static electricity may touch the contacts, which could damage the IC pins, or trigger these pins mistakenly. Optionally, a mechanical protection mechanism could be added, or alternatively protection circuitry could be added inside the dongle to protect against static electricity. In one embodiment, a sliding mechanical cover can be used. For example, contact 402 could be recessed with a mechanical cover flush with the side of dongle 102. Contact 404 could be spring loaded, so that it pushes the mechanical cover to the side when the dongle is inserted, and the spring biases contact 404 against contact 402.
In one embodiment, the data signals from the second adaptor port are audio signals from an audio source (e.g., a user's microphone). This audio is combined with audio from a host (e.g., a video game playing on the host). The combined signal can be sent back to the host, and or to a device connected to the dongle (wirelessly or wired). In one example, the device is a headset wirelessly connected to the dongle.
Numerous specific details are set forth herein to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, apparatuses, or systems that would be known by one of ordinary skill have not been described in detail so as not to obscure claimed subject matter. The various embodiments illustrated and described are provided merely as examples to illustrate various features of the claims. However, features shown and described with respect to any given embodiment are not necessarily limited to the associated embodiment and may be used or combined with other embodiments that are shown and described. Further, the claims are not intended to be limited by any one example embodiment. For example, the term “dongle” used herein can refer to any device, part or apparatus that includes the connectors and signal processing described herein for a dongle. Similarly, the term “adaptor” used herein can refer to any device, part or apparatus that includes the connectors and signal processing described herein for an adaptor.
While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, it should be understood that the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of example rather than limitation, and does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations, and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Indeed, the methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
Although the present disclosure provides certain example embodiments and applications, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, including embodiments which do not provide all the features and advantages set forth herein, are also within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be defined only by reference to the appended claims.
The system or systems discussed herein are not limited to any particular product, hardware architecture or configuration. Embodiments of the methods disclosed herein may be performed in the operation of such computing devices. The order of the steps presented in the examples above can be varied—for example, steps can be re-ordered, combined, and/or broken into sub-steps. Certain steps or processes can be performed in parallel.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain examples include, while other examples do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more examples or that one or more examples necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular example.
The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. The use of “adapted to” or “configured to” herein is meant as open and inclusive language that does not foreclose devices adapted to or configured to perform additional tasks or steps. Additionally, the use of “based on” is meant to be open and inclusive, in that a process, step, calculation, or other action “based on” one or more recited conditions or values may, in practice, be based on additional conditions or values beyond those recited. Similarly, the use of “based at least in part on” is meant to be open and inclusive, in that a process, step, calculation, or other action “based at least in part on” one or more recited conditions or values may, in practice, be based on additional conditions or values beyond those recited. Headings, lists, and numbering included herein are for ease of explanation only and are not meant to be limiting.
The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and sub-combinations are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, certain method or process steps may be omitted in some embodiments. The methods and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the steps or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate. For example, described steps or states may be performed in an order other than that specifically disclosed, or multiple steps or states may be combined in a single step or state. The example steps or states may be performed in serial, in parallel, or in some other manner. Steps or states may be added to or removed from the disclosed examples. Similarly, the example systems and components described herein may be configured differently than described. For example, elements may be added to, removed from, or rearranged compared to the disclosed examples.
The various embodiments illustrated and described are provided merely as examples to illustrate various features of the claims. However, features shown and described with respect to any given embodiment are not necessarily limited to the associated embodiment and may be used or combined with other embodiments that are shown and described. Further, the claims are not intended to be limited by any one example embodiment.
Although the present disclosure provides certain example embodiments and applications, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, including embodiments which do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein, are also within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be defined only by reference to the appended claims.
