IP Library Granted Patent US 9,146,261
Granted Patent B2
US 9,146,261 · App. 14/018,550 · Granted Sep 29, 2015

Electronic device and method of electronic device for determining power source device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,146,261
App. No.
14/018,550
Granted
Sep 29, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device includes a current source for applying current, a pull-up resistor or a pull-down resistor configured to be connected to one of a plurality of data terminals, a voltage level detection circuit configured to detect voltage values of the plurality of data terminals, and a connected device determination circuit configured to determine a type of a power source device based on the voltage values of the plurality of data terminals detected by the voltage level detection circuit.

Claims (17)

1. An electronic device for being connected to a power source device and including a power terminal, a ground terminal and a plurality of data terminals, the electronic device comprising:

a current source for applying current,

a voltage level detection circuit configured to detect voltage values of the plurality of data terminals,

a resistor value detection circuit configured to detect a resistor value of a pull-up resistor or pull-down resistor configured to be connected to one of the plurality of data terminals in the power source device, and

a connected device determination circuit configured to determine a type of the power source device based on the voltage values of the plurality of data terminals detected by the voltage level detection circuit and the resistor value detected by the resistor value detection circuit.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connected device determination circuit determines whether the plurality of data terminals are driven or not based on the voltage values of the plurality of data terminals detected by the voltage level detection circuit, and determines the type of the power source device based on a result of the determination.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising:

a switch configured to cause the current source for applying current, the pull-up resistor or the pull-down resistor to be connected to one of the plurality of data terminals, wherein the connected device determination circuit causes the switch to be ON to cause the voltage level detection circuit to detect the voltage values of the plurality of data terminals when any one of the voltage values of the plurality of data terminals is greater than a predefined voltage when the switch is caused to be OFF, and determines the type of the power source device based on the voltage values of the plurality of data terminals when the switch is caused to be OFF and the voltage values of the plurality of data terminals when the switch is caused to be ON.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the connected device determination circuit

includes

registers in which the voltage values of the plurality of data terminals when the switch is caused to be OFF and the voltage values of the plurality of data terminals when the switch is caused to be ON are stored, and

a table in which resistor values of pull-up resisters or pull-down resistors that are connected to the plurality of data terminals in the power source device, the value being calculated from the voltage values stored in the registers, are associated with a power supply capability of the power source device, and

determines the power supply capability of the power source device by referring to the values stored in the registers and the table.

5. A method of an electronic device to be connected to a power source device, for determining a type of the power source device, the electronic device including a power terminal, a ground terminal, a plurality of data terminals, a current source for applying current, a pull-up resistor or a pull-down resistor that is connected to one of the plurality of data terminals, the method for determining the type of the power source device comprising:

detecting voltage values of the plurality of data terminals,

detecting a resistor value of the pull-up resistor or pull-down resistor that is connected to said one of the plurality of data terminals in the power source device, and

determining the type of the connected power source device based on the detected voltage values of the plurality of data terminals and the detected resistor value of the pull-up resistor or pull-down resistor.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2015
From: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
To: RICOH ELECTRONIC DEVICES CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035011/0219 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: FUNAKOSHI, MASAYUKI
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 031282/0566 →