KR200253014Y1 - USB HUB with Switching Function - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a USB hub that solves the disadvantages of signal unidirectionality and limitation of separation distance between a USB hub and a USB device in a network system using a USB hub.

The present invention provides a USB hub capable of establishing a network that can be switched between a master function and a slave function by operating a switch built in the hub without exchanging the hub. The USB terminal 31 and the switch 1 ( 38, a main terminal 33 for receiving a signal from a computer, a USB 1 terminal 34 for receiving the signal from the main terminal 33, a USB 2 terminal 35, and a USB 3 terminal 36 And a 4-port USB hub 30, wherein only the USB 1 terminal 34 protrudes to the outside of the USB hub, and all the remaining terminals are embedded into the USB hub. Switch 1 (38,39), Switch 2 (40,41), Switch 3 (42), and Switch 4 (43), which control the direction in which the cable is transmitted, are connected to the 4-port USB hub 30 by a line on the board. Connected to the switch 3 (42) and the switch 4 (43) in a line on a substrate. Network repeater, characterized in that it comprises a USB repeater (44,45), the Internet sharer 46 is connected to the USB 4 terminal 37 by a line on the board and connected to the USB terminal 32 mounted on another computer It offers a USB hub available.

The USB hub according to the present invention significantly improves the disadvantage of limiting the separation distance between the USB hub and the USB device due to signal unidirectionality and signal attenuation in the hierarchical structure of the USB hub.

Description

USB hub with switching function {USB HUB with Switching Function}

The present invention relates to a USB hub capable of establishing a networking, and more particularly, to a USB hub capable of establishing a networking that can solve the disadvantages of signal unidirectionality and limitation of separation distance between a USB hub and a USB device.

USB (Universal Serial Bus, hereinafter referred to as 'USB') is a communication protocol designed to connect computers and peripheral devices. It is a kind of serial communication port that was overcome. USB supports Microsoft's Plug & Play and Hot Pluging features. Plug and play means that the computer recognizes the devices connected to your system when you connect the peripherals to the computer. Hot plugging means that you can insert peripherals into the computer at any time, even if the computer is running, without turning off the computer. The ability to connect or disconnect directly.

Nowadays, the amount of memory required by a picture file exceeds 100 megabytes, and video and audio files typically require hundreds of megabytes or more of storage space. It is very difficult to send and receive such a large amount of data using a conventional serial port or parallel port. To solve these problems, USB supports both 1.5 Megabyte Per Second (Mbps) Low Speed Mode and 12 Megabits High Speed Mode. . The low speed mode is mainly used for peripheral devices such as keyboard, mouse, joystick, etc., and the high speed mode is hard disk, CD-ROM, DVD (DVD: Digital). It is mainly used for peripheral devices such as video disk, digital camera, zip drive, scanner and printer.

In addition, USB can be used simultaneously by connecting up to 127 peripheral devices on one bus, which can be used when a large number of peripheral devices are connected to the computer body when using a conventional serial or parallel port. The communication cables are entangled with each other to help clean up the back of the computer, which was very complicated.

Due to the various advantages listed above, in recent years, personal computers have been increasingly equipped with USB as a standard, and the use of conventional serial and parallel ports is gradually decreasing.

Networking configuration using USB is basically composed of three types: Host, Hub and Device. The USB host is the center of all USB connections, and in hardware it is called a USB Host Controller. The USB host controller manages and controls the flow of drivers, software and data required by each peripheral connected to the bus.

A USB hub is a device that allows multiple USB devices to share the output of a single USB host controller. The USB hub detects whether a device is connected to the downstream port and finds the power value required for each device. In addition, the USB hub processes the data by determining whether the down port is set to the low speed mode or the high speed mode.

A USB device is a device connected to a USB hub through a USB cable or directly connected to a USB terminal of the computer main body. Up to 127 peripheral devices can be connected to one USB bus. Depending on whether or not different devices are used.

The USB cable contains four physical communication lines, two of which transfer data between the host and the device, and two of which provide power. Supplying power directly to a low-power device via a USB bus has the advantage of operating the device using the current provided by the USB bus without a separate external power source. Of course, devices that use more current than the USB bus provides must use a separate power adapter. The maximum current that the host can supply over a USB bus using a power adapter is typically 500 mA.

If you look at the pin structure of the USB port, it consists of four pins. There are two types.

1 is a diagram showing the structure of USB port type A and the structure of port type B. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, when the USB port is viewed from the front, the type A 11 has a structure in which pins 1, 2, 3, and 4 are arranged from the left side, and a type B 12 is disposed. The upper part is pin 1 and pin 3 from the left side, and the pin 2 and pin 4 are arranged from the left side down. Pins 1 and 4 of Type A and Type B are used for power supply, and Pins 2 and 3 are used to transmit and receive data.

2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which a USB hub is configured in a unidirectional tree structure.

The device used to provide two to four or more ports on the USB port is a USB hub. The hierarchical structure of the conventional USB hub is a one-way tree, which is connected directly to the computer's USB port when connected in multiple stages. Once the hub is set to Master, the rest of the USB hubs are automatically fixed as slaves. That is, referring to Figure 2, when the hub connected to the USB terminal of the computer (not shown) connected to the communication line is operated as a master hub connected to the next stage is a unidirectional structure that is fixed as a slave, if the hub to operate as a slave In order to operate as a master, it was inconvenient to remove a USB hub acting as a slave and reconnect it to a USB terminal of a computer (not shown).

In addition, when data communication is performed using a USB cable, when the length of the USB cable exceeds 5 m, signal attenuation becomes remarkable and communication quality is degraded. Therefore, the distance between the USB hub and the USB device is limited.

In order to solve these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a USB hub device for simultaneously solving the problem of limiting the separation distance between the USB hub and the device due to the signal unidirectional hierarchical structure of the USB.

To this end, the present invention, in the USB hub capable of establishing a network that can be switched between the master function and the slave function by operating the switch built in the hub without replacing the hub, the USB terminal mounted on the computer and switch 1 A main terminal connected to the terminal to receive a signal from a computer, a USB 1 terminal, a USB 2 terminal, a USB 3 terminal, and a USB 4 terminal receiving the signal from the main terminal 33; A four-port USB hub that protrudes out of the hub and the remaining terminals are all embedded inside the USB hub, and switches 1, switch 2, switch 3, and switch 4 that control the direction in which the signal is transmitted are located in the four-port USB hub. And a USB repeater connected by a line on a board, and connected to the switch 3 and the switch 4 by a line on a board, and a board connected to the USB 4 terminal. In connection with the line and provides the network construction is possible USB hub comprising: a router which is connected to the USB terminal connected to another computer.

1 is a view showing the appearance of USB port Type A and Type B;

2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment in which a USB hub is configured in a unidirectional tree structure;

3 is a view showing an embodiment when the USB hub according to the present invention operates as a master,

4 is a view showing an embodiment when the USB hub according to the present invention operates as a seated slave;

5 is a view showing an embodiment when the USB hub according to the present invention operates as a right slave,

6 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a looping signal of a signal generated when establishing a circular networking using a USB hub;

7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of looping prevention when the USB hub according to the present invention operates as a left slave;

8 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of looping prevention when the USB hub according to the present invention operates as a right slave.

Description of the main parts of the drawing

11: USB port type A 12: USB port type B

31, 32: USB port on the computer 33: Up port

34: USB 1 terminal 35: USB 2 terminal

36: USB 3 terminal 37: USB 4 terminal

38, 39: switch 1 40, 41: switch 2

42: switch 3 43: switch 4

44, 45: USB Repeater 46: Router

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a view showing an embodiment when the USB hub according to the present invention operates as a master.

In the drawing, the part indicated by a solid line indicates a line through which a signal or data flows, and the part indicated by a dotted line indicates a line where a signal or data does not flow.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a 4-port non-powered USB hub 30 was used. Since the left / right switch 1 (38,39) and the left / right switch 2 (40,41) are always kept in the same ON / OFF state, the switch operated by the computer user in the USB hub according to the present invention is the switch 1 There are four (38,39), switches 2 (40, 41), switches 3 (42), and switches 4 (43). That is, the left and right switches 1 and 2 are shown as separate in the figures but are integrated with each other and manufactured.

The operation of the USB hub 30 as a master means that the USB hub 30 is connected to a USB terminal 31 of a computer main body (not shown) directly connected to a communication line and capable of internet communication.

For convenience of description of the following figures, switch 1 (38, 39), switch 2 (40, 41), switch 3 (42), and switch 4 (43) are all turned on to operate the USB hub as a master. Switch 1 (38, 39) and Switch 2 (40, 41) are in the OFF state to operate as slaves, Switch 3 (42) and Switch 4 (43) are in the ON state, and switch 1 ( 38 and 39 are in the OFF state, and the switch 2 (40, 41), the switch 3 (42) and the switch 4 (43) will be explained on the assumption that they have already been operated in the ON state.

Referring to FIG. 3, the signal output from the USB terminal 31 attached to the main body of the computer is transferred to the switch 1 38 attached to the USB hub through the USB cable connected to the USB terminal 31. Delivered. Since the left switch 1 (18) is in the ON state, the signal is inputted to the main terminal 33, which is an upstream port connected to the computer, and the main terminal 33 is connected to all terminals in the USB hub 30. Will be delivered.

For convenience of explanation, the example shown in FIG. 3 shows that the USB 1 terminal 34 is opened to be used by connecting a peripheral device, so that a computer user can connect a USB cable to the USB 1 terminal 34 to connect the peripheral device. The device becomes available.

The signal input from the main terminal 33 to the USB 2 terminal 35 is transmitted to the left switch 2 40, and the signal is transmitted to the switch 3 42 because the left switch 2 40 is in the ON state. On the other hand, the signal input to the USB 2 terminal 35 is transferred to the left USB repeater 44 because the switch 3 (42) is ON, the signal is amplified in the left USB repeater 44 to the next stage, that is, lower It will be delivered to a USB hub. By connecting the USB repeater to the USB hub 30 as described above, the distance limitation of the conventional USB hub is remarkably improved.

On the other hand, the signal input from the main terminal 33 to the USB 3 terminal 36 is transmitted to the right switch 1 (39), and since the right switch 1 (39) is in the ON state, the signal is transferred to the right switch 2 (41). Delivered. On the other hand, the signal is transmitted to the switch 4 (43) because the right switch 2 (41) is in the ON state, and the switch 4 (43) is also transmitted to the right USB repeater 45 because it is in the ON state is input to the USB 2 terminal (35) As with the signal, the signal is amplified in the right USB repeater 45 and delivered to the next stage USB hub.

As described above, in order to operate the USB hub according to the present invention as a master, all of switches 1 (38, 39), switches 2 (40, 41), switches 3 (42), and switches 4 (43) are turned on. Manipulate

On the other hand, in the embodiment according to the present invention, since the USB 4 terminal 37 and the router 46 is connected by a line on the circuit board, the USB 4 terminal 37 is in an open state. Therefore, only the USB terminal 32 of another computer should use the USB 4 terminal 37 through the router 46, but the computer user accidentally connects another USB peripheral device to the open USB 4 terminal 37. There is a risk of making an error. Therefore, in order to prevent such a mistake in advance, in the USB hub according to the present invention, the USB 4 terminal 37 is made to be embedded in. That is, in the USB hub according to the present invention, only the USB 1 terminal 34 is made to protrude out, and the remaining terminals are all embedded in the form. A router is a device that allows any computer to communicate while saving money in small businesses or homes. That is, the Internet router is a device that enables the Internet to a computer that is not directly connected to the network using a computer capable of Internet communication is not Internet communication in the USB hub 30 according to the present invention as an Internet router 46 I use a bridge. A bridge is a connection device that interconnects two independent local area networks, and devices connected to each network connected by a bridge can use the functions provided by other networks by connecting to another network through the bridge. .

4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment when a USB hub according to the present invention operates as a seated slave.

Here, the left slave refers to the signal flowing through the left USB repeater 44 and the signal flowing through the right USB repeater 45.

Referring to FIG. 4, the signal input to the left USB repeater 44 is transmitted to the switch 3 (42), and the switch 3 (42) is turned on, so it is transmitted to the left switch 2 (40), and then the left switch 2 (40). ) Is OFF, so it is transmitted to the right switch 1 (39). Again, the signal is transmitted to the left switch 1 (38) because the right switch 1 (39) is OFF, and the left switch 1 (38) is input to the main terminal (33) because the left switch 1 (38) is OFF, and the main terminal (33) is inputted. The signal is transmitted to all USB terminals.

The USB 1 terminal 34 connects and uses peripheral devices as in the case where the USB hub operates as a master.

The signal input from the main terminal 33 to the USB 2 terminal 35 is transmitted to the right switch 2 41 and to the switch 4 43 because the right switch 2 41 is in the OFF state. Since switch 4 (43) is in the ON state, the signal is input to the right USB repeater 45, and then the signal is amplified in the right USB repeater 45 and transferred to the next stage USB hub.

The signal input from the main terminal 33 to the USB 3 terminal 36 is no longer transmitted because the right switch 1 39 is in the OFF state.

Similar to that described with reference to FIG. 3, by connecting the USB terminal 32 of another computer to the Internet router 46, which is connected by USB 4 terminal 35 with a line on the board, Internet communication of another computer is possible.

Therefore, in order to operate the USB hub according to the present invention as a seating slave, switches 1 (38, 39) and 2 (40, 41) are turned off, and switches 3 (42) and 4 (43) are turned on. Should be.

5 is a view showing an embodiment when the USB hub according to the present invention operates as a right slave.

Here, the right slave refers to a signal flowing through the right USB repeater 45 and flowing out through the left USB repeater 44.

Referring to FIG. 5, the signal input to the right USB repeater 44 is transmitted to the switch 4 43, and the switch 4 43 is transmitted to the right switch 2 41 because the switch 4 43 is in an ON state. ) Is on, so it is transmitted to the right switch 1 (39). The signal is transmitted to the left switch 1 (38) because the right switch 1 (39) is OFF, and is input to the main terminal (33) because the left switch 1 (38) is the ON state. As described above, the main terminal 33 transfers the signal to all USB terminals.

The signal input to the USB 2 terminal 35 is transmitted to the left switch 2 40, and is transmitted to the switch 3 42 because the left switch 2 40 is in an ON state. The signal is transmitted to the left USB repeater 44 since the switch 3 (42) is in the ON state, and then amplified by the left USB repeater 44 to the next stage USB hub.

The USB 1 terminal 34, the USB 3 terminal 36, and the USB 4 terminal 37 have the same functions as described in the left slave of FIG. 4.

Therefore, in order to operate the USB hub according to the present invention as a right slave, the switch 1 (38, 39) is operated in the OFF state, the switch 2 (40, 41), the switch 3 (42), and the switch 4 (43) in the ON state. Should be.

Conventionally, in order to operate a USB hub acting as a slave, the USB hub itself acting as a slave had to be detached and connected to a USB terminal of a computer capable of communicating. However, the USB hub according to the present invention can operate as a master or a slave by operating only a switch without replacing the USB hub itself.

The tree structure described so far is included in a linear structure in a broad sense. If the network structure using the USB hub is linear, networking can be performed without any problem, but a problem occurs when the network structure becomes circular. That is, when the USB hub is arranged in a circular structure, signals from the USB hubs connected to each other at the last stage collide with each other, thereby causing looping.

Looping can cause problems for networking systems because there are no connected terminals or devices that can cause signals to flow in the transmission path.

6 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a looping signal of a signal generated when establishing a circular networking using a USB hub.

In the USB hub according to the present invention, the prevention of such a looping phenomenon is made very easy by simply operating a switch.

7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of looping prevention when the USB hub according to the present invention operates as a left slave.

That is, the signal transmitted from the left USB repeater 44 to the switch 4 43 through the process described with reference to FIG. 4 is no longer transmitted to the right USB repeater 45 when the switch 4 43 is operated in the OFF state. Since it does not flow, it is possible to prevent the looping phenomenon.

7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of looping prevention when the USB hub according to the present invention operates as a right slave.

In the same principle as described with reference to FIG. 6, the switch 3 42 may be operated in an OFF state to prevent looping.

On the other hand, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the USB hub is manufactured and installed to an outlet size such that it can be embedded in the wall of the office or home where the USB hub is to be installed. Therefore, networking can be easily implemented at a much lower cost than the cost of networking using a conventional USB hub. That is, in the past, when connecting the USB hubs on both sides of the network to the network takes a lot of USB cable, if you install a USB hub to the wall to install a separate USB cable is not required.

As described above, the USB hub according to the present invention can switch between the master function and the slave function by simply operating a switch without exchanging the USB hub itself, thereby enabling a very simple networking configuration. In addition, when the USB repeater is installed in the USB hub and the signal from the conventional USB hub flows over 5 m on the cable, the attenuation of the signal occurs remarkably, which compensates for the conventional disadvantage that data transmission is impossible. Data transmission is possible without large attenuation.

In addition, by including an Internet router inside the USB hub, it is possible to communicate with the Internet of a computer that is not directly connected to the network communication. In addition, the USB hub may be manufactured to an outlet size enough to be purchased on a wall of an office or a home, thereby overcoming the disadvantages of establishing networking by connecting both USB hubs to a wall using a conventional USB hub.

In other words, when connecting a USB hub on both sides of the wall using a conventional USB hub, a lot of USB cables and USB repeaters are needed along the passage, and the USB cable is entangled in the floor, which is not good for aesthetics. Done.

Claims (6)

In the USB hub that can be built networking that can switch between the master function and the slave function by the operation of the switch built in the hub without changing the hub, A main terminal 33 connected to a USB terminal 31 mounted on a computer and a switch 1 (38) to receive a signal from a computer, a USB 1 terminal 34 to receive the signal from the main terminal 33, And a USB 2 terminal 35, a USB 3 terminal 36, and a USB 4 terminal 37, wherein only the USB 1 terminal 34 protrudes out of the USB hub, and all of the remaining terminals are inside the USB hub. 4 port USB hub (30) which is purchased, Switch 1 (38,39), Switch 2 (40,41), Switch 3 (42), and Switch 4 (43), which control the direction in which the signal is transmitted, are routed from the 4-port USB hub 30 to the circuit board. USB repeaters 44 and 45 connected to and connected to the switch 3 (42) and the switch 4 (43) by a line on a substrate, And a USB router (46) connected to the USB terminal (37) by a line on a board and connected to a USB terminal (32) mounted on another computer. The method of claim 1, The USB hub is a USB hub capable of establishing a network, characterized in that provided with the Internet router (46) to enable the Internet communication by connecting to the USB 4 terminal (37). The method of claim 2, The Internet router (46) is a USB hub capable of establishing a network, characterized in that the bridge having a function of interconnecting two local area networks to operate independently. The method of claim 1, The USB hub amplifies the signal and compensates for the attenuation of the signal generated when the signal is transmitted through the USB cable to extend the separation distance between the USB hub and the USB device. Connected to the switch 3 (42) and the switch 4 (43) USB hub capable of establishing a network, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The USB hub operates the switch 3 (42) and the switch 4 (43) to prevent the looping of the signal generated when constructing a network in a circular structure using the USB hub, characterized in that networking Built-in USB hub. The method of claim 1, The USB hub is a USB hub capable of establishing a network, characterized in that the size is enough to be embedded in the wall of the office or home to build the networking using the USB hub.