Patent Application
20250112422
The present invention relates to the field of audio, video and USB signal connectivity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-use cable connector.
Connecting and transferring data between devices, i.e., a source device and an end unit, is quite challenging in an era with various types of interfaces and protocols. Different types of laptops support different interfaces. Some laptops support HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) which is a proprietary audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital data from an HDMI-compliant source device, such as a Laptop, to a compatible monitor, video projector, digital television, or digital audio device. Other laptops support USB-C, which is a revolution in the field of video, audio and USB connectivity, as it provides in a single connector full featured connectivity that includes multi-stream video, audio, USB data and charging. Other laptops support USB Type-A that provides in a single connector video/audio connectivity and USB data.
However, video, audio and USB data stream between different interfaces can be very challenging. When someone wants to present a content from a laptop (a presentation featuring video, audio, PowerPoint files etc.) on a monitor that is not compatible with the laptop interface, it can cause much aggravation. This occurs mostly in meeting rooms where the laptop interfaces are not compatible with the monitor in the meeting room. This usually requires finding workarounds, which usually involve IT support and waste significant time from all the participants of the meeting.
Some solutions include expensive and complex box devices which support multi-interfaces and enable processing and data flow between non-compatible interfaces. These box devices are very complex and expensive and require many cables, which can be very cumbersome, Also, they require specific use and operation knowledge for their operation.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device/system for a smart, “plug & play”, cost effective connection between host and display systems.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device/system for the data transfer between host/stored and display systems.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.
The present invention relates to a cable connector device having a host side with three cable connectors—a USB-C connector, an HDMI connector and a USB type A connector. The present invention cable connector device also comprises a device/display side having a USB-C connector. The present invention enables transferring signals from the host side to the device/display side and vice versa. The signal propagation between two different connector types is carried out by a converter component (or module) which converts a signal type coming from the source connector (the source signal corresponding to the source connector type) to a signal type of the target connector (the target signal corresponding to the target connector type). The host side connectors and the device/display side connector are coupled to a PCB assembly. The converter component is implemented on the PCB assembly. A switcher component (or module) is also implemented on the PCB assembly for routing the signals propagation. The signals propagating in the present invention propagate on dedicated connection lines and all lines mentioned herein (e.g. HDMI line, USB-C line, USB type-A line) may be for example, DP lines (e.g., particularly usable for the USBC lines), USB3.X lines (e.g., particularly usable for the USBC lines and for the USB type-A lines), Transition-minimized differential signaling (TMDS) lines (e.g., particularly usable for the HDMI lines), USB2.0 lines (e.g., particularly usable for the USB type-A lines).
The present invention relates to a single cable connector device comprising:
According to one embodiment, the PCB comprises a switcher component and a signal converter component connected to said switcher component; wherein the switcher component is connected to the USB-C male connector of the device connecting side and to the USB-C male connector of the host connecting side; and
According to one embodiment, the host connecting side USB-C male connector is coupled to the switcher component by means of a first USB-C line; wherein the switcher component is coupled to the device side USB-C male connector by means of a second USB-C line;
According to one embodiment, the switcher component is configured to provide signal propagation and connectivity between the first USB-C line and the second USB-C line;
According to one embodiment, the converter component is configured to:
According to this aspect and in one embodiment, the HDMI format signal being converted in item ‘a’ comprises one or more of the following:
According to one embodiment the PCB comprises a switcher component, a first signal converter component and a second signal converter component;
According to one embodiment, the host connecting side USB-C male connector is coupled to the first converter component by means of a USB-C line; wherein the first converter component is coupled to the switcher component by means of a first HDMI line;
According to one embodiment, the switcher component is configured to provide signal propagation and connectivity between the first HDMI line and the third HDMI line;
According to one embodiment, the first converter component is configured to:
According to one embodiment, the second converter component is configured to:
These converted signals may be, for example, an AV signal, a Display Data Channel (DDC) signal, a CEC (Consumer Electronic Control) protocol signal, an HPD (Hot Plug Detect) signal.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which similar references consistently indicate similar elements and in which:
The present invention relates to a single smart cable connector device. The cable device is configured to transfer data from a host side to a display side (or other type of device side) and vice versa. In some aspects, the cable uniquely provides a simple single cable replacing a plurality of devices in common use for these purposes.
The term “host side” as used herein refers to an art-recognized term, which relates, in some non-limiting aspects, to the relaying of information or signal from a source. In some embodiments, the host side, with which the present invention cable device is configured to connect, may include a variety of sources/devices, such as, for example, a laptop, a personal computer (PC), a mobile device, a smartphone, tablet etc.
The term “display side” as used herein, may be used interchangeably with the term “device side”, which terms, in turn refer to art-recognized terms, which, in some non-limiting aspects, represent the receiving end for the information or signal relayed from the “host side” source.
In some embodiments, the display and/or device side, with which the present invention cable device is configured to connect may include a variety of elements/devices, such as, for example, a monitor, a camera, a microphone, a speaker, etc., and in other embodiments, the display and/or device side may also refer to a mobile device, a smartphone, tablet, etc., including a second such device, even if the host side also makes use of a mobile device, smartphone, tablet, etc., including devices of the same model, i.e. from the same manufacturer. In some aspects, the term “display side” and/or “device side” will be understood to receive information or signal relayed from the “host side” source in any acceptable data format, including for audio and video output.
The mentioned peripherals (e.g. monitor, camera, microphone, speaker, mobile device, smartphone, tablet) may be additionally connected via a USB HUB to the present invention cable (device side).
The present invention single cable is configured to host various signals (such as Data signals, control signals, Power, etc.). The present invention host side comprises a USB-C (USB type-C) male connector interface, an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) male connector interface and a USB 3.x type-A male connector interface (e.g. a USB A 3.2). The three connectors enable the host side to connect to a host side device which supports either one of the three connector interfaces.
The device side comprises a USB-C male connector interface.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the cable unit device supports low latency AV communication, and high resolution such as 4K@60 4:4:4 and 8K resolutions, as will be appreciated by the skilled artisan. In some aspects, the invention provides for same in an affordable configuration.
The cable unit device side comprises a (second) USB-C male connector 30 also connected to the PCB assembly 20.
The host side, device side and components therebetween (e.g. switcher component, converter component) are interconnected by means of connection lines. In some aspects, reference to connection lines will include wires, fibers and the like. The connection lines as described herein, enable signal propagation therethrough.
In some aspects, the term “connection lines” is interchangeable with the term “lines”, and may refer, inter alia, to the elements for propagating a signal between the host and device side, for example, via use of wires, which represent an embodied connection line of this invention.
In some embodiments, connection lines may comprise, in non-limiting examples, USB-C lines, HDMI lines, USB type-A lines, DP lines, CC control lines, Vbus lines and the like. The present invention cable device comprise different kinds of these connection lines in a single cable, as explained herein.
The present invention further comprises a switcher component on the PCB assembly that routes the signals propagation between connection lines that are connected to the switcher component.
The host side USB-C male connector 12 is coupled to a switcher component 14 (on the PCB 20) by means of a USB-C line 13. The switcher component 14 is coupled to the device side USB-C male connector 30 by means of a USB-C line 15.
The switcher component 14 is also coupled to a converter component 25 by means of a USB-C line 24. The converter component 25 is coupled to the HDMI male connector 16 by means of an HDMI line 17. The converter component 25 is also coupled to the Type-A male connector 18 by means of a type-A line 19.
The switcher component 14 is configured in one scenario to provide signal propagation and connectivity between the lines 13 and 15 and in other scenario between lines 24 and 15. The switcher component 14 (and converter component 25) may be implemented on the PCB 20 by means of a chip set component, a MUX component, etc.
The converter component 25 is configured to convert an HDMI format signal, propagating on line 17 from the HDMI male connector interface 16, into a USB-C format signal to propagate on line 24. The converter component 25 is also configured to convert a USB Type-A format signal, propagating on line 19 from the USB Type-A male connector interface 18, into a USB-C format signal to propagate on line 24. The converter component 25 is also configured to convert a USB-C format signal, propagating on line 24 from the switcher component 14 (coming from the USB-C male connector 30), into an HDMI format signal to propagate on line 17. The converter component 25 is also configured to convert a USB-C format signal, propagating on line 24 from the switcher component 14 (coming from the USB-C male connector 30), into a USB type-A format signal to propagate on line 19.
Typically, the HDMI signal propagating on line 17 from the HDMI male connector 16 may comprise an AV signal, a Display Data Channel (DDC) signal (e.g. DDC DATA, DDC CLK (clock)), a CEC (Consumer Electronic Control) protocol signal and an HPD (Hot Plug Detect) signal (e.g. 5V). Then, the signal (e.g. comprising one or more of these signal features are converted in the converter component 25 to a corresponding USB-C signal (having the same corresponding signal features) which then propagates on line 15.
Typically, the USB signal propagating on line 24 from the switcher 14 may comprise a Display Data Channel (DDC) signal (e.g. DDC DATA, DDC CLK (clock)), a CEC (Consumer Electronic Control) protocol signal and an HPD (Hot Plug Detect) signal (e.g. 5V). Then, the signal (e.g. comprising one or more of these signal features are converted in the converter component 25 to a corresponding HDMI signal (having the same corresponding signal features) which then propagates on line 17. The switcher component 14 routes the signals propagation.
In the present invention device, more than one signal may propagate in parallel (e.g. once connected and detected). According to another embodiment, a default scenario of signal propagation is such that the USB-C signal of line 15 is routed to line 13. If a connection occurs from the HDMI male connector 16 or USB type-A male connector 18, line 15 will automatically be routed to line 24. Other embodiments may include other priority routes (e.g. prioritizing signal propagation from element 30 to element 12 or to element 16 or to element 18 and/or prioritizing signal propagation from element 12 or from element 16 or from element 18, etc.).
According to one embodiment, a Voltage Bus (Vbus) line (not shown) may be connected between the USB-C male connector 30 and the USB-C male connector 12, e.g., for the purpose of charging. Also, several CC (Channel Configuration) control lines (not shown) may be coupled between the host side and the device side (and possibly also between the host/device side and intervening/linking components as explained herein). For example, “command has been received” or “change protocol” control signals. The CC control lines perform a number of functions such as cable attachment and removal detection, receptacle/plug orientation detection, and current advertisement. These lines could be also used for the communications required by the Power Delivery and Alternate Mode.
The host side USB-C male connector 12 is coupled to a converter component 50 (on the PCB 20) by means of a USB-C line 48. The converter component 50 is coupled to a switcher component 55 by means of a HDMI line 49.
The host side USB-C male connector 12 is also coupled to the switcher component 55 by means of a USB3.X line 51.
The switcher component 55 is coupled to the USB-C male connector 30 (of the device side) by means of a USB3.X line 57. The switcher component 55 is also coupled to a converter component 60 by means of an HDMI line 58. The converter component 60 is coupled to the USB-C male connector 30 (of the device side) by means of a DP line 59.
The HDMI male connector 16 is coupled to the switcher component 55 by means of an HDMI line 52. The Type-A male connector 18 is coupled to the switcher component 55 by means of a type-A line 53 (e.g. USB3.X line).
The switcher component 55 is configured in one scenario to provide signal propagation and connectivity between the lines 49 and 58 and in other scenario between lines 51 and 57. The switcher component 55, converter component 50 and converter component 60 may be implemented on the PCB 20 by means of a chip set component, a MUX component, etc.
The converter component 50 is configured to convert a USB-C format signal propagating on line 48 into an HDMI format signal to propagate on line 49. The converter component 60 is configured to convert an HDMI format signal propagating on line 58 into a DP format signal to propagate on line 59.
The signal types explained herein may be similar to the signal types as explained herein (e.g. with reference to
In the present invention device, more than one signal may propagate in parallel as explained herein, mutatis mutandis.
The cables of this invention may be manufactured by conventional means, as known in the art, which methods will comply with known standards for USB/HDMI cable production/manufacturing protocols/standards.
While some of the embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried into practice with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of a person skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the claims.
The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/585,979, filed on Sep. 28, 2023, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63585979 | Sep 2023 | US |
