IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,127,181
Granted Patent B2
US 10,127,181 · App. 14/699,700 · Granted Nov 13, 2018

Port disconnect charging function for USB hub

Inventors: Atish Ghosh (Austin, TX); Donald L. Perkins (Madison, AL); Brigham Steele (San Tan Valley, AZ)
Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
G06F13/4282H02J7/0052G06F2213/0042G06F2213/3812
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,127,181
App. No.
14/699,700
Filed
Apr 29, 2015
Granted
Nov 13, 2018
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2859
USPC
320/107
Abstract

A Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub includes a first port that is configured to be switched from a downstream port to an upstream port; a plurality of other ports; and a controller configured to switch a function of the first port from the downstream port to the upstream port responsive to a command from an attached device and further configured to switch at least one of the plurality of other ports from a data and charge port into a port dedicated to charging.

Claims (37)

1. A Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub comprising:

a first port that is configured to be switched from a downstream port to an upstream port;

a plurality of other ports; and

a controller circuit configured to switch a function of the first port from the downstream port to the upstream port responsive to a command from an attached device and further configured to switch at least one of the plurality of other ports from a data and charge port into a port dedicated to charging responsive to the command.

2. The USB hub according to claim 1 , wherein the controller circuit is configured to switch the at least one of the plurality of other ports into the port dedicated for charging if the device has not enumerated the at least one of the plurality of other ports.

3. The USB hub according to claim 1 , wherein all ports not enumerated by the device are turned into ports dedicated for charging by the controller circuit.

4. The USB hub according to claim 1 , wherein the controller circuit is configured to cause a short between a DP and DM line of the at least one of the plurality of other ports that was switched into a port dedicated for charging.

5. The USB hub according to claim 1 , wherein the controller circuit is configured to switch the other port back when the first port is switched back from an upstream function to a downstream function.

6. The USB hub according to claim 1 , wherein the controller circuit is configured to disable USB data lines to the port dedicated for charging.

7. The USB hub according to claim 1 , further including a second port configured to be switched from downstream to upstream.

8. A universal serial bus (USB) hub, comprising:

a first port that is configured to be switched from a downstream port in a first mode to an upstream port in a second mode;

a second port that is configured to be switched from an upstream port in the first mode to a downstream port in the second mode; and

at least one third port configured to operate for data transfer in the first mode and as a dedicated charging port in the second mode.

9. The USB hub of claim 8 , further including a controller circuit configured to switch from the first mode to the second mode responsive to a command from a device attached to the first port.

10. The USB hub of claim 9 , wherein the controller circuit is configured to switch the at least one third port to function as a dedicated charging port in the second mode if the at least one third port has not been enumerated by the device.

11. The USB hub according to claim 8 , wherein the controller circuit is configured to cause a short between a DP and DM line of the at least one of the plurality of other ports that was switched into a port dedicated for charging.

12. The USB hub according to claim 8 , wherein the controller circuit is configured to switch the at least one third port back when the first port is switched back from an upstream function to a downstream function.

13. The USB hub according to claim 8 , wherein the controller circuit is configured to disable USB data lines to the port dedicated for charging.

14. A Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub comprising:

a plurality of ports;

a controller circuit configured to:

switch a function of at least one port of the plurality of ports from a downstream port to an upstream port responsive to a command from an attached device; and

responsive to the command, switch at least one other of the plurality of ports from a data and charge port into a port dedicated to charging.

15. The USB hub according to claim 14 , wherein the controller circuit is configured to switch the at least one other of the plurality of ports into the port dedicated for charging if the device has not enumerated the at least one other of the plurality of ports.

16. The USB hub according to claim 14 , wherein all ports of the plurality of ports not enumerated by the device are turned into ports dedicated for charging by the controller circuit.

17. The USB hub according to claim 14 , wherein the controller circuit is configured to cause a short between a DP and DM line of the at least one other of the plurality of ports that was switched into a port dedicated for charging.

18. The USB hub according to claim 14 , wherein the controller circuit is configured to switch the other port back when the at least one port is switched back from an upstream function to a downstream function.

19. The USB hub according to claim 14 , wherein the controller circuit is configured to disable USB data lines to the port dedicated for charging.

20. A method for operating a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub including a plurality of ports, the method comprising:

switching a function of a first port of the plurality of ports from a downstream function to an upstream function responsive to a command from an attached device; and

responsive to the command, switching at least one other of the plurality of ports from a data and charge port into a port dedicated to charging.

21. The method of claim 20 , further including switching the at least one other of the plurality of ports into the port dedicated for charging if the attached device has not enumerated the at least one other of the plurality of ports.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein all ports not enumerated by the device are turned into ports dedicated for charging by the controller.

23. The method of claim 20 , including causing a short between a DP and DM line of the at least one of the plurality of other ports that was switched into a port dedicated for charging.

24. The method of claim 20 , further including switching the other port back or waiting until a charging device is disconnected when the first port is switched back from an upstream function to a downstream function.

25. The method of claim 20 , including disabling USB data lines to the port dedicated for charging.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060894/0437 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059363/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059863/0400 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 059666/0545 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057935/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055671/0612 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053468/0705 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053466/0011 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0305 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2018
From: GHOSH, ATISH; PERKINS, DONALD L.; STEELE, BRIGHAM
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 046766/0520 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041675/0617 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61986240 · Apr 30, 2014
Related Publication 20150318728A1 · Nov 5, 2015
Cited By (1)
US 12,439,000