USB (universal serial bus) interface allowing a maximum load value of 2 amperes and switching the USB interface to a disconnected state when the load value exceeds 2 amperes

Abstract

A usb connector cable includes a main cable having four separately formed wires, namely, a voltage wire, a first data transmission wire, a second data transmission wire and a ground wire, and a power cable having a voltage wire and a ground wire which are integrally and respectively formed with the voltage wire and the ground wire of the main cable. #2# An electronic device is suitable to connect with a peripheral device and includes a circuit board, an interface and a load switch. The interface outputs a first current and at least one data signal to the peripheral device and the interface complying with a computer related standard defining a first current threshold. The interface located on said circuit board. The load switch connects to the interface and runs a second current to said interface. The load switch converts into a disconnected state while a value of the second current is excess than a second current threshold. The second current threshold is higher than the first current threshold, and the interface and the load switch are conductive under the second current threshold.

Description

an embodiment of the present invention can supply a maximum current of 2 ampere in order to response the specific current and voltage required by the external peripheral devices. However, in order to prevent damage to the motherboard from damage, a load switch 201 is provided between and interconnects electrically the power supply unit 12 and the external peripheral device 32. The load switch 201 is capable of carrying a current load ranging between threshold values of, for example, 0.5 and 2 amperes, and includes a current control circuit and a fuse (preferably a poly switch). Thus, when the required current for operating the external peripheral device 32 exceeds the amount of 2 amperes, the USB interface device 20 is converted into a state, in which, the USB interface device 20 is disconnected electrically from the external peripheral device 32, thereby stopping disconnecting the electrical power supply to the external peripheral device 32. The interface device 20 may be a USB interface device 20 and can be selected from 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0, or other versions.

Referring to FIG. 4, an important aspect to note that when the USB based external peripheral device 32 available presently at the market needs a current of more than 500 mA to operate the same, a connecting cable 30X is required for connection to an external power source 4 in order to provide the required current to the USB based external peripheral device 32. FIG. 4 illustrates how a prior art USB connector cable interconnect the external peripheral device 32 and an electronic instrument (such as a notebook computer), in which, the voltage wire (Vcc) of the prior art USB connector cable is not used, since the electrical power for operating the external peripheral device 32 comes from the external power source 4.

In order to solve the aforesaid problem, the USB connector cable 30 (see FIG. 2) is used together with the USB interface device 20 of the present invention. The USB connector cable 30 includes a main cable 301 and a power cable 302. The main cable 301 has two opposite ends, which are adapted to be connected electrically to the external peripheral device 32 and the CPU of the notebook computer for data transmission therebetween. The power cable 302 extends outwardly and laterally from the main cable 301 between the opposite ends, and has a distal end adapted to be connected electrically to a power socket 321 of the external peripheral device 32 in order to supply electrical power from the notebook computer 10 to the external peripheral device 32 so as to permit operation of the external peripheral device 32.

In the preferred embodiment, the external peripheral device 32 is formed with a USB port and the notebook computer 10 is formed with a USB port. The USB connector cable 30 further includes two USB plugs 301P which are provided respectively to the opposite ends of the main cable 301 and which are adapted to be plugged respectively into the USB port of the external peripheral device 32 and the USB port of the CPU 10. The USB connector cable 30 further includes a plug 302P that is connected to the distal end of the power cable 302, that is adapted to be plugged into the power socket 321 of the external peripheral device 32 and that has a configuration different from a respective one of the USB plugs 301P.

The main cable 301 includes four separately formed wires, namely, a voltage wire (Vcc), a first data transmission wire (signal 1), a second data transmission wire (signal 2) and a ground wire (GND). The power cable 302 includes a voltage wire (Vcc) and a ground wire (GND), which are respectively and integrally formed with the voltage wire (Vcc) and the ground wire (GND) of the main cable 301.

In contrast to the prior art USB connector cable, the voltage wire (Vcc) and the ground wire (GNB) (GND) of the power cable 302 are integrally and respectively formed with the voltage wire (Vcc) and the ground wire (GNB) (GND) of the main cable 301 in order to supply electrical power the external peripheral device 32. The object of reducing the burden of the notebook computer is accordingly achieved.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

#2# 8. A usb (Universal Serial Bus) interface device mounted on a CPU of in a computer for interconnecting the a CPU to an external peripheral device, the CPU being provided with a power supply unit, the power supply unit capable of providing current to the external peripheral device via the usb interface for operation thereof, the usb interface device comprising:

a load switch disposed between and interconnecting electrically the power supply unit and the external peripheral device, said load switch for carrying a maximum current load of 2 amperes wherein, when the required current for operating the external peripheral device exceeds the amount of 2 amperes, said usb interface device is converted into a state, during which state said usb interface device is disconnected electrically to the external peripheral device.

#2# 12. A usb interface device for interconnecting a CPU of a computer and an external peripheral device, the CPU being provided with a power supply unit, the power supply unit being capable of providing current to the external peripheral device via the usb interface device for operation thereof, the usb interface device comprising:

a load switch disposed between and interconnecting electrically the power supply unit and the external peripheral device, said load switch for carrying a maximum current load of 2.0 ampere wherein, when the required current for operating the external peripheral device exceeds the amount of 2 amperes, said usb interface device is converted into a state, during which state, said usb interface device is disconnected electrically to the external peripheral device; and

a usb connector cable, including:

a main cable having two opposite ends which are adapted to be connected electrically to the external peripheral device and the CPU for data transmission therebetween; and

a power cable extending outwardly and laterally from said main cable between said opposite ends, and having a distal end adapted to be connected electrically to a power socket of the external peripheral device in order to supply electrical power from the CPU to the external peripheral device so as to permit operation of the external peripheral device.

#2# 1. A usb (Universal Serial Bus) connector device for interconnecting electrically an electronic instrument and an external peripheral device, the usb connector device comprising:

a usb interface adapted to be mounted on the electronic instrument, and adapted to supply electrical power to the external peripheral device for data transmission therebetween, said usb interface for supplying a maximum current of 2 amperes wherein, when the required current for operating the external peripheral device exceeds the amount of 2 amperes, said usb interface is converted into a state, during which state said usb interface is disconnected electrically to the external peripheral device, thereby stopping the electrical power supply to the external peripheral device;

a load switch, mounted on said usb interface wherein, when the required current for operating the external peripheral device exceeds the amount of 2 amperes, said usb interface is converted into a state, during which state said usb interface is disconnected electrically to the external peripheral device; and

a usb connector cable including:

a main cable having two opposite ends which are adapted to be connected electrically to the external peripheral device and said usb interface for data transmission therebetween, and

a power cable extending outwardly and laterally from said main cable between said opposite ends, and having a distal end adapted to be connected electrically to the external peripheral device in order to supply electrical power required by the external peripheral device for operation thereof.

2. #2# The usb (Universal Serial Bus) connector device according to claim 1, wherein said load switch includes a current control chip and a fuse.

3. #2# The usb (Universal Serial Bus) connector device according to claim 1, wherein said load switch includes a current control chip and a poly switch.

4. #2# The usb (Universal Serial Bus) connector device according to claim 1, wherein the external peripheral device is formed with a usb port and the electronic instrument is formed with a usb port, the usb connector device further comprising two usb plugs which are provided respectively to said opposite ends of said main cable and which are adapted to be plugged into the usb port of the external peripheral device and the usb port of the electronic instrument.

5. #2# The usb (Universal Serial Bus) connector device according to claim 4, wherein the external peripheral device is further formed with a power socket, the usb connector device further comprising a plug that is connected to said distal end of said power cable, that is adapted to be plugged into the power socket of the external peripheral device and that has a configuration different from a respective one of the usb plugs.

6. #2# The usb (Universal Serial Bus) connector device according to claim 1, wherein said main cable has four separately formed wires, including a voltage wire, a first data transmission wire, a second data transmission wire and a ground wire.

7. #2# The usb (Universal Serial Bus) connector device according to claim 6, wherein said power cable includes a voltage wire and a ground wire which are respectively and integrally formed with said voltage wire and said ground wire of said main cable.

9. #2# The usb interface device according to claim 8, wherein said load switch includes a current control chip and a fuse.

10. #2# The usb (Universal Serial Bus) interface device according to claim 8, wherein said load switch includes a current control chip and a poly switch.

11. #2# The usb (Universal Serial Bus) interface device according to claim 8, wherein the external peripheral device is selected from a group consisting of a CD ROM, an optical reading/writing apparatus, and a hard drive.

13. #2# The usb interface device according to claim 12, wherein said main cable has four separately formed wires, including a voltage wire, a first data transmission wire, a second data transmission wire and a ground wire.

14. #2# The usb (Universal Serial Bus) interface device according to claim 12, wherein said power cable includes a voltage wire and a ground wire which are respectively and integrally formed with said voltage wire and said ground wire of said main cable.

15. An electronic device which is suitable to connect with a peripheral device, the electronic device comprising:

a circuit board;

an interface outputted a first current and at least one data signal to said peripheral device, and said interface located on said circuit board; and

a load switch connected to the interface, said load switch flowing a second current to said interface, said load switch convert into a disconnected state while a value of said second current is excess than a specific value, wherein in the disconnected state, the interface is electrically disconnected from said peripheral device;

wherein said specific value is greater than 2 amperes, and said interface and said load switch are conductive under said specific value, wherein said peripheral device is configured to receive electrical power via the interface.

19. A connector device for interconnecting electrically an electronic instrument and an external peripheral device, the connector device comprising:

an interface adapted to be mounted on the electronic instrument, and adapted to supply electrical power to the external peripheral device for data transmission therebetween, said interface for supplying a maximum current of 2 amperes wherein, when the required current for operating the external peripheral device exceeds the amount of 2 amperes, said interface is converted into a state, during which state said interface is disconnected electrically to the external peripheral device, thereby stopping the electrical power supply to the external peripheral device;

a load switch, mounted on said interface wherein, when the required current for operating the external peripheral device exceeds the amount of 2 amperes, said interface is converted into a state, during which state said interface is disconnected electrically to the external peripheral device; and

a connector cable including:

a main cable having two opposite ends which are adapted to be connected electrically to the external peripheral device and said interface for data transmission therebetween, and

a power cable extending outwardly and laterally from said main cable between said opposite ends, and having a distal end adapted to be connected electrically to the external peripheral device in order to supply electrical power required by the external peripheral device for operation thereof.

20. An electronic device which is suitable to connect with a peripheral device, the electronic device comprising:

a circuit board;

an interface outputted a first current and at least one data signal to said peripheral device, and said interface located on said circuit board; and

a load switch connected to the interface, said load switch flowing a second current to said interface, said load switch convert into a disconnected state while a value of said second current is excess than a specific value, wherein in the disconnected state, the interface is electrically disconnected from said peripheral device, when said peripheral device requiring greater than 2 amperes for operation;

wherein said specific value is greater than 2 amperes, and said interface and said load switch are conductive under said specific value, wherein said peripheral device is configured to receive electrical power via the interface.

21. An electronic device which is suitable to connect with a peripheral device, the electronic device comprising:

a circuit board;

an interface outputted a first current and at least one data signal to said peripheral device, and said interface located on said circuit board; and

a load switch connected to the interface, said load switch flowing a second current to said interface, said load switch convert into a disconnected state while a value of said second current is excess than a specific value, wherein in the disconnected state, the interface is electrically disconnected from said peripheral device and said peripheral device requiring greater than 2 amperes for operation;

wherein said specific value is greater than 2 amperes, and said interface and said load switch are conductive under said specific value, wherein said peripheral device is configured to receive electrical power via the interface.