IP Library Granted Patent US 11,537,188
Granted Patent B2
US 11,537,188 · App. 17/423,596 · Granted Dec 27, 2022

Interface circuit, information processing apparatus, display method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Inventors: Tsuyoshi Shimada (Kanagawa, JP); Takeo Miyajima (Kanagawa, JP); Hiromu Matsushima (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd.
G06F1/266G06F11/324G06F13/4282G06F2213/0042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,537,188
App. No.
17/423,596
Granted
Dec 27, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A user can easily determine, before connecting, whether an electronic device is able to operate when connected to an interface circuit and whether power can be supplied. The interface circuit includes a controller, a connector for connecting to an electronic device, and a display. The controller displays an operation mode and a power supply mode supported by the interface circuit on the display with the electronic device not connected to the connector.

Claims (29)

1. An interface circuit comprising:

a connector configured to connect to an electronic device via a cable;

a display; and

a controller, wherein

the controller displays a supported operation mode and a supported power supply mode on the display when the electronic device is not connected to the connector via the cable, and displays an established operation mode and an established power supply mode on the display after negotiation with the electronic device connected to the connector via the cable along with the supported operation mode and the supported power supply mode before negotiation.

2. The interface circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the controller displays power profile information on the display when unsupported power profile information is received after negotiation with the electronic device connected to the connector via the cable.

3. The interface circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the interface circuit is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C interface circuit.

4. The interface circuit according to claim 1 , wherein

the interface circuit is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C interface circuit,

the cable includes an embedded E-Marker, and

the controller displays information acquired through configuration channel (CC) communication with the E-Marker, on the display.

5. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an interface circuit configured to include a connector for connecting to an electronic device via a cable;

a display; and

a controller, wherein

the controller displays an operation mode and a power supply mode being supported by the interface circuit on the display when the electronic device is not connected to the connector via the cable, and displays an established operation mode and an established power supply mode on the display after negotiation with the electronic device connected to the connector via the cable along with the operation mode and the power supply mode being supported by the interface circuit before negotiation.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the controller displays power profile information on the display when unsupported power profile information is received after negotiation with the electronic device connected to the connector via the cable.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the interface circuit is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C interface circuit.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the interface circuit is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C interface circuit,

the cable includes an embedded E-Marker, and

the controller displays information acquired through configuration channel (CC) communication with the E-Marker, on the display.

9. A display method comprising:

detecting that an electronic device is not connected to a connector for connecting to the electronic device via a cable by an interface circuit including the connector or an information processing apparatus including the interface circuit; and

causing the interface circuit or the information processing apparatus to display, on a display, an operation mode and a power supply mode being supported by the interface circuit, when the detecting detects that the electronic device is not connected to the connector via the cable, and to display, on the display, an established operation mode and an established power supply mode after negotiation with the electronic device connected to the connector via the cable along with the operation mode and the power supply mode being supported by the interface circuit before negotiation.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store a program for causing a control computer embedded in or connected to an interface circuit including a connector for connecting to an electronic device via a cable, to execute:

detecting that the electronic device is not connected to the connector;

displaying an operation mode and a power supply mode being supported by the interface circuit when the detecting detects that the electronic device is not connected to the connector via the cable; and

displaying an established operation mode and an established power supply mode after negotiation with the electronic device connected to the connector via the cable along with the operation mode and the power supply mode being supported by the interface circuit before negotiation.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2025
From: NEC PLATFORMS, LTD
To: STEERETAIL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 073594/0253 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2022
From: SH1MADA, TSUYOSHI; MIYAJIMA, TAKEO; MATSUSHIMA, HIROMU
To: NEC PLATFORMS, LTD.,
Reel/Frame 061385/0576 →