Method and apparatus for reconfiguring pin assignments on a connector
A method ( 700 ) for reconfiguring pin assignments on a connector ( 100 ) is provided. The method ( 700 ) includes reading a present accessory type ( 34 a ) from an accessory ( 30 ) coupled to the connector ( 100 ) having a plurality of pins ( 110 ) wherein the present accessory type ( 34 a ) is associated with an accessory pin assignment ( 31 ) of the connector ( 100 ), and comparing the present accessory type ( 34 a ) to a stored accessory type ( 18 a ) associated with a connector pin assignment ( 17 ) to determine if the accessory pin assignment ( 31 ) is compatible with the connector pin assignment ( 17 ).
1. A method ( 700 ) for reconfiguring pin assignments on a connector ( 100 ), the method comprising:
reading a present accessory type ( 34 a ) from an accessory memory ( 34 ) in an accessory ( 30 ) coupled to the connector ( 100 ) having a plurality of pins ( 110 ), wherein the present accessory type ( 34 a ) is associated with an accessory pin assignment ( 31 ) of the connector ( 100 );
comparing the present accessory type ( 34 a ) to a stored accessory type ( 18 a ) associated with a connector pin assignment ( 17 ) to determine if the accessory pin assignment ( 31 ) is compatible with the connector pin assignment ( 17 ); and
reading a present flag ( 34 b ) from the accessory memory ( 34 ) in the accessory ( 30 ) to determine if additional data in addition to the present accessory type ( 34 a ) is required from the accessory ( 30 ) to communicate with the accessory ( 30 ).
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing the connector pin assignment ( 17 ) to be compatible with the accessory pin assignment ( 31 ) if the accessory pin assignment ( 31 ) is incompatible with the connector pin assignment ( 17 ).
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein changing the connector pin assignment ( 17 ) includes changing at least one data pin assignment to read data from the accessory ( 30 ) coupled to the connector ( 100 ).
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored accessory type ( 18 a ) is associated with a prior accessory ( 20 ) coupled to the connector ( 100 ) prior to the accessory ( 30 ) being coupled to the connector ( 100 ).
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the present flag ( 34 b ) is associated with calibration factors determined from calibrating the accessory ( 30 ) prior to the accessory ( 30 ) being coupled to a processor board ( 10 ).
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the present flag ( 34 b ) is a unique identifier of the accessory ( 30 ).
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein changing the connector pin assignment ( 17 ) includes changing at least one programmable flag ( 19 ) on a processor ( 12 ) on a processor board ( 10 ) that is coupled to the connector ( 100 ) to change the connector pin assignment ( 17 ).
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored accessory type ( 18 a ) was provided by a prior accessory ( 20 ) coupled to the connector ( 100 ) prior to the accessory ( 30 ) being coupled to the connector ( 100 ).
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the present accessory type ( 34 a ) is read through at least one of the plurality of pins ( 110 ) commonly assigned in at least two accessory pin assignments ( 21 , 31 ).
10. An apparatus ( 600 ) for reconfiguring pin assignments on a connector ( 100 ), comprising:
the connector ( 100 ) having a plurality of pins ( 110 );
an accessory ( 30 ) coupled to the connector ( 100 ); and
a processor ( 12 ) coupled to the plurality of pins ( 110 ), the processor ( 12 ) being configured to:
read a present accessory type ( 34 a ) from an accessory memory ( 34 ) in the accessory ( 30 ), wherein the present accessory type ( 34 a ) is associated with an accessory pin assignment ( 31 );
compare the present accessory type ( 34 a ) to a stored accessory type ( 18 a ) associated with a connector pin assignment ( 17 );
read a present flag ( 34 b ) from the accessory memory ( 34 ) in the accessory ( 30 ) to determine if additional data in addition to the present accessory type ( 34 a ) is required from the accessory ( 30 ) to communicate with the accessory ( 30 ); and
change the connector pin assignment ( 17 ) based on the comparison between the present accessory type ( 34 a ) and the stored accessory type ( 18 a ).
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor ( 12 ) is further configured to determine if the accessory pin assignment ( 31 ) is compatible with the connector pin assignment ( 17 ) based on the comparison between the present accessory type ( 34 a ) and the stored accessory type ( 18 a ).
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor ( 12 ) is further configured to change at least one data pin assignment in the connector pin assignment ( 17 ) to read data from the accessory ( 30 ).
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the stored accessory type ( 18 a ) is associated with a prior accessory ( 20 ) coupled to the connector ( 100 ) prior to the accessory ( 30 ) being coupled to the connector ( 100 ).
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the present flag ( 34 b ) is associated with calibration factors determined from calibrating the accessory ( 30 ) prior to the accessory ( 30 ) being coupled to a processor board ( 10 ).
15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the present flag ( 34 b ) is a unique identifier of the accessory ( 30 ).
16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor ( 12 ) is configured to change at least one programmable flag ( 19 ) on the processor ( 12 ) to change the connector pin assignment ( 17 ).
17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor ( 12 ) is further configured to read the present accessory type ( 34 a ) through at least one of the plurality of pins ( 110 ) commonly assigned in at least two accessory pin assignments ( 21 , 31 ).
18. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor ( 12 ) is further configured to store the stored accessory type ( 18 a ) prior to the accessory ( 30 ) being connected to the connector ( 100 ).