Granted Patent B2

US 7,908,414 · App. 11/380,065 · Granted Mar 15, 2011

Abstract

Claims (30)

1. A USB host/client system comprising:

a USB client device having a port for connection via a USB cable to a USB host device;

a power supply unit remote from the USB host device for powering the USB host device through the USB cable connecting the USB client device to the USB host device; and

circuitry, separate from the USB host device, for detecting when the USB host device is connected to the USB client device but is not powered by a power supply in the USB host device, and when detected causing the power supply unit to supply power to the USB host device, and detecting when the USB host device is connected to the USB client device and is powered by a power supply in the USB host device, and when detected causing the power supply unit to not supply power to the USB host device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the USB client device is a printer.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power supply unit supplies sufficient power for all normal operations of the USB host device.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising circuitry connected to the USB client device and the power supply, for selectively providing power from the power supply unit to the USB host device upon a determination that the USB host device is not otherwise powered.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the circuitry removes power from the USB host device upon a determination that the USB host device has been inactive for a predetermined period of time.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the circuitry determines that the USB host device has been inactive by monitoring activity on data lines coupled to the port of the USB client device.

7. A USB host/client system comprising:

a USB client device having a port for connection via a USB cable to a USB host device;

a power supply unit remote from the USB host device for powering the USB host device through the USB cable connecting the USB client device to the USB host device wherein the power supply unit supplies sufficient power for all normal operations of the USB host device; and

circuitry for detecting when the USB host device is connected to the USB client device but is not powered by a power supply in the USB host device, and when detected causing the power supply unit to supply power to the USB host device through the USB cable connecting the USB client device to the USB host device, and detecting when the USB host device is connected to the USB client device and is powered by a power supply in the USB host device, and when detected causing the power supply unit to not supply power to the USB host device.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the USB client device is a printer.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the power supply unit is integral with the USB client device.

10. The system of claim 7 , further comprising circuitry coupled to the USB client device and the power supply for selectively providing power to the USB host device through the USB cable upon a determination that the USB host device is not otherwise powered.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the circuitry removes power to the USB host device upon a determination that the USB host device has been inactive for a predetermined period of time.

12. A module for facilitating use of a USB host device and a USB client device, comprising:

electronic circuitry to detect an unpowered USB host device connected to a USB client device, the USB host device having a USB VBUS pin coupled to the USB client device when the USB host device is connected thereto; and

a power supply unit remote from the USB host device connectable to the USB VBUS pin to power the USB host device following the detection by the electronic circuitry, the module providing the USB client device a proper indication that a powered USB host device has been plugged in;

wherein the electronic circuitry removes power to the USB host device from the power supply upon a determination that the USB host device has been inactive for a period of time.

13. The module of claim 12 , wherein said module is integral with the USB client device.

14. A method of facilitating use of USB host device and a USB client device, comprising:

detecting the presence of a connected but unpowered USB host device having a USB VBUS pin;

applying power from a power supply remote from the USB host device to the USB VBUS pin to power up the USB host device, responsive to the detection;

providing the USB client device a proper indication that a powered USB host device has been plugged in; and

removing power from the USB host device if the USB host device has been inactive for a predetermined period of time.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the USB client device is a printer and the USB host device is a wireless network adapter.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the inactivity is determined by one of monitoring the SOG signal from the USB host device and detecting removal of the current path on signal line D+ or D− of the USB host device.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the applying power comprises applying power to the USB host device over the connection between the USB host device and the USB client device.

Assignments (8)