JP2000231969A - Usb hub - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an USB HUB allowing easy supply of power to various peripherals connected with the USB port. SOLUTION: This USB HUB 10 includes a plurality of USB ports 12 and an USB HUB circuit 13 connecting these USB ports 12 each other. The USB HUB 10 further includes a power supply 15 supplying DC voltage of a determined voltage to each USB parts 12, at least one AC output outlet 16 and a power cord 17 suppling AC voltage from the main power to the power supply 15 and the AC outlet 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a USB hub for connecting various devices of a USB interface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, in a personal computer, a USB standard interface (hereinafter referred to as a USB interface) has been adopted as a common interface for connecting various peripheral devices, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a printer, etc., to the personal computer body. ing. In order to connect various peripheral devices having a plurality of USB interfaces to a personal computer, a USB hub having a plurality of USB interface connectors is used.

Here, the USB interface uses a cable combining two signal lines and two power supply lines, and supplies power to various peripheral devices from each USB port via a USB hub. Has become possible.

Such a USB hub is configured as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example. 3 and 4, a USB hub 1 is provided with a USB port 3 including a plurality of (four in the illustrated case) USB connectors provided on the front surface of a flat rectangular parallelepiped main body 2 and built in the main body 2. A DC voltage of a predetermined voltage (5 V) is supplied to each of the USB ports 3 and the USB cable 5 via the USB hub circuit 4, the USB cable 5 drawn out from the USB hub circuit 4, and the USB hub circuit 4. And an AC adapter 6 externally attached to the main body 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the USB port 3 has a USB compatible keyboard, mouse, etc., a speaker,
In the case where a printer or the like is connected and a speaker or a printer consumes relatively large power, a power plug is connected to an AC outlet 7 serving as a commercial power supply, or a DC voltage is supplied through an AC adapter. It is supposed to be.

[0006]

However, a plurality of peripheral devices that require a power supply such as a speaker and a printer are provided with a plurality of USB devices.
In the case of connection to the port 3, since it is necessary to connect to the respective commercial power supply, the power cords are routed from these peripheral devices to the AC outlets, respectively, which complicates the wiring, and particularly the AC power. If the outlet is located in a place that is difficult for the user to reach, such as under a desk, there is a problem in that connecting to the AC outlet becomes troublesome.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a USB hub capable of easily supplying power to various peripheral devices connected to a USB port.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the above object includes a plurality of USB ports, a USB hub circuit for interconnecting these USB ports, and further comprising each USB port. A power supply unit for supplying a DC voltage of a predetermined voltage to the power supply unit, at least one AC output outlet, and a power cord for supplying an AC voltage from a commercial power supply to the power supply unit and the AC output outlet. This is achieved by a USB hub.

According to the above configuration, by connecting various USB-compatible peripheral devices to the USB port,
When these peripheral devices are connected to each other and to the personal computer body, and the voltage of the commercial power supply is supplied to the power supply unit via the power cord, a predetermined DC voltage is supplied from the power supply unit to the USB hub. It will be supplied from the circuit to the USB port. Further, among the various peripheral devices connected to the USB port, the peripheral device having relatively large power consumption has a power cord or AC power cord.
By connecting the adapter to the AC output outlet, power can be supplied from a commercial power supply.

[0010] Therefore, such a peripheral device having relatively large power consumption is provided with a power cord or A as in the prior art.
There is no need to connect the C adapter to an AC outlet provided on the indoor wall, etc.
Since it is sufficient to connect to the output outlet, the work of connecting to the AC outlet can be easily performed, and the wiring around the power supply can be simplified. Further, to the AC output outlet, not only the above-described USB-compatible peripheral device having relatively large power consumption but also various devices such as other home appliances such as a light, a shaver, and a mobile phone charger can be connected. Therefore, the wiring around the power supply including such various devices can be simplified.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 and 2 show one embodiment of a USB hub according to the present invention. FIG.
2 and FIG. 2, a plurality of USB hubs 10 (four in the illustrated case) are provided on the front surface of a flat rectangular parallelepiped main body 11.
USB port 12 composed of a USB connector, a USB hub circuit 13 built in the main body 11, and a USB cable 14 drawn out of the USB hub circuit 13 to the outside.
A switching power supply 15 as a power supply unit built in the main body 11 so as to supply a DC voltage of a predetermined voltage (5 V) to each of the USB ports 12 and the USB cable 14 via the USB hub circuit 13; A commercial power supply supplied by a plurality of (two in the illustrated case) AC output outlets 16 provided on the upper surface of the power supply 11 and a power cord 17 having a power plug 17a connected to the commercial power supply is connected to the switching power supply. 15 and an AC distributor 18 for distribution to the AC output outlet 16.

A DC voltage of a predetermined voltage (for example, 5 V) is applied to each USB connector of the USB port 12 and a power supply line of the USB cable 14 from a switching power supply 15. The USB hub circuit 13 has a known configuration, and is configured to mutually connect the signal line and the power supply line of each USB port 12 and the USB cable 14. The USB cable 14 has a USB plug provided at a distal end, for example, a U-port of a USB port provided in a personal computer body (not shown).
The connection is made to the SB connector.

The switching power supply 15 generates a predetermined voltage, for example, 5 V DC voltage, based on a commercial power supply of, for example, AC 100 V input from a power plug 17 a via a power cord 17 and an AC distributor 18. Then, the power is supplied to the USB hub circuit 13.
The AC output outlet 16 is configured to output a commercial power of, for example, 100 V AC input from a power plug 17 a via a power cord 17 and an AC distributor 18 as it is.

The USB hub 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention
It is configured as described above.
As shown in FIG. 1, a USB cable 14 is connected to a USB port of a personal computer (not shown), and a USB compatible keyboard, mouse, speaker, and the like are connected to each USB port 12 of the USB hub 10. , A printer and the like are connected.

Here, in the case of a speaker, a printer or the like having relatively large power consumption, a power cord 19 of the peripheral device is connected to the AC output outlet 16 or a DC voltage is supplied through an AC adapter. It is being supplied.

The US to which various peripheral devices are connected as described above
According to the B hub 10, by connecting various USB-compatible peripheral devices to the respective USB ports 12, these peripheral devices are connected to each other and to the personal computer body, and switching is performed. Power supply 1
5 is supplied to the power line of the USB interface to supply power to various peripheral devices connected to each USB port 12.

Further, among the various peripheral devices connected to the USB port, those having relatively large power consumption, such as speakers and printers, have a power cord 1.
9 or the AC adapter is connected to the AC output outlet 16, so that power can be supplied from the commercial power supply.

Therefore, in the case of a peripheral device having relatively large power consumption such as a speaker, a printer, etc., as in the prior art,
There is no need to connect the power cord 19 or the AC adapter to an AC outlet provided on the indoor wall, etc.
Since the connection to the AC outlet 16 provided in the USB hub 10 is sufficient, the connection to the AC outlet can be easily performed, and the wiring around the power supply can be simplified.

In the above-described embodiment, a keyboard and a mouse are shown as various peripheral devices connected to each USB port 12, and a speaker and a printer are shown as peripheral devices having relatively large power consumption. ,
It is apparent that other peripheral devices such as a USB-compatible terminal adapter can be connected.

In the above-described embodiment, AC
The output outlet 16 has a relatively large power consumption US.
A power cord or an AC adapter of a B-compatible peripheral device is connected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other devices such as a light, a shaver, a mobile phone charger, etc. Since various devices such as home appliances can also be connected, convenience can be further enhanced.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, U
By connecting various USB-compatible peripheral devices to the SB port, these peripheral devices are connected to each other and to the personal computer body, and the voltage of the commercial power supply is supplied to the power supply unit via the power cord. Is supplied to the USB port from the power supply unit to the USB port from the USB hub circuit. Furthermore, among various peripheral devices connected to the USB port,
With respect to the peripheral device having relatively large power consumption, the power supply of the commercial power supply can be performed by connecting the power cord or the AC adapter to the AC output outlet.

Accordingly, such a peripheral device having relatively large power consumption is provided with a power cord or A as in the prior art.
There is no need to connect the C adapter to an AC outlet provided on the indoor wall, etc.
Since it is sufficient to connect to the output outlet, the work of connecting to the AC outlet can be easily performed, and the wiring around the power supply can be simplified. Further, to the AC output outlet, not only the above-described USB-compatible peripheral device having relatively large power consumption but also various devices such as other home appliances such as a light, a shaver, and a mobile phone charger can be connected. Therefore, the wiring around the power supply including such various devices can be simplified.

Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an extremely excellent USB hub capable of easily supplying power to various peripheral devices connected to the USB port.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing one embodiment of a USB hub according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the USB hub of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a conventional USB hub.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the USB hub of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 USB hub 11 Main body 12 USB port 13 USB hub circuit 14 USB cable 15 Switching power supply 16 AC output receptacle 17 Power cord 17a Power plug 18 AC distributor 19 Power cord

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of USB ports and a plurality of USB ports
A USB hub circuit for connecting the B ports to each other; a power supply unit for supplying a predetermined DC voltage to each USB port; at least one AC output outlet; And a power cord for supplying an AC voltage from a commercial power supply to the outlet.