JP2003295989A - Interface connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an interface connector which can connect a host device (personal computer) and a plurality of external peripheral devices easily and inexpensively, saving space. <P>SOLUTION: An interface connector incorporating a hub connecting an upper side device and a plurality of lower side devices is provided. An interface is, for instance, a USB interface. By this invention, without depending on conventional connection configuration via a hub unit, the host device and the plurality of peripheral devices can be connected directly, so that the reduction of installation space for the hub unit and the simplification and facilitation of wiring/ connection work are achieved, permitting an inexpensive system configuration. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an interface connector, such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface connector, for connecting a host device (personal computer, etc.) and peripheral devices, and more particularly to an upper connector and a plurality of lower connectors. The present invention relates to an interface connector having a hub function for connecting to a connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and MO drives have a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port as an external device (external peripheral device), and an increasing number of devices are connected by a USB interface. There is. In addition, products such as printers, scanners, modems, etc. that were previously connected via parallel ports or serial ports are
It has become a product form that can be connected with the SB interface, and with the increase of external peripheral devices connected with the USB interface, it has multiple USB interface ports and connects the external peripheral devices in a tree shape via the hub unit. Is needed.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a case in which a host device and a plurality of peripheral devices are connected via a hub (HUB) unit in a USB interface. As shown in FIG. 12, external peripheral devices (hard disk drive (HDD), CD-RO) equipped with a plurality of USB interfaces.
When connecting an M drive, a printer, etc.), a hub unit is generally used to form a tree structure and a USB interface cable is used to connect to external peripheral devices.

FIG. 13 shows an external structure of the hub unit. The hub unit has a B plug socket 18 for connecting to a host side, for example, a B plug 16 of a USB interface cable extending from a personal computer, and an external peripheral device side, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, an external storage device, a hard disk drive, an MO drive, CD-R
A hub unit is provided with an A plug 12 of a USB interface cable extending from an OM drive, a printer, a scanner, a modem, and the like, and an A plug socket 14 for connection.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a block configuration example of a hub unit. In FIG. 14, the hub unit is a B plug socket 18 connected to an upper device (for example, a host PC) and peripheral devices (HDD, CD) that are lower devices.
A ROM drive, a printer, an FDD, etc.) and a plurality of A plug sockets 14 for connection to the hub control IC 22 for controlling signals transmitted between the one-to-many connectors.

As a method of supplying power to external peripheral devices connected to the USB interface, there are a self power mode in which an AC adapter is used to supply power from the outside and a bus power mode in which power is supplied from a host device. . The self-power mode is a mode used when connecting through a device or a hub unit having a large amount of power, or when sufficient power cannot be supplied to the connected device. In the case of this self-power mode, an external power source is supplied from an external power source connector provided on the hub unit, and the supplied power source is supplied to an external peripheral device connected to the lower side.

Therefore, when the hub unit has the self-power mode, as shown in FIG. 2, the hub unit has a power connector 30 for connecting to an external power source, and the power IC 24 in the hub unit has a power connector. Supply the power from 30 to the hub control IC 22,
From hub control IC 22 to each A plug socket 1
Power is supplied to the lower device via 4. The regulator IC 26 adjusts the power supply amount to the hub control IC 22 according to the power required by the lower device. When the external power supply is not connected to the power supply connector 30, the hub circuit 20 operates in the bus power mode, and the power IC 24 connects the host PC through the B plug socket 18.
Power is supplied to the hub control IC 22 from the hub control IC 22, and power is supplied from the hub control IC 22 to the lower device via each A plug socket 14.

Further, in the USB standard, the connector shape is different between the upstream connected to the upper side and the downstream connected to the lower side in order to prevent erroneous insertion,
A device that is always connected to the host (personal computer) side and used, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, an external storage device, etc., is often provided with a USB interface cable equipped with an A plug 12 on the device body side. In such a connection, the A plug 12 can be directly connected by the A plug socket 14 provided on the host side. However, depending on the device, for example, a printer or a scanner may be connected to the device main body side. Since there is a case where the B plug socket 18 is provided, the A plug socket 1 directly on the host side
It is not possible to connect to 4. In such a case, the connection is made by using a USB interface cable having an A plug 12 connector on one side and a B plug 16 connector on the other side.

[0009]

In recent years, many types of products have been commercialized as the number of external peripheral devices equipped with a USB interface has increased. However, the external shape of the connector connected to the USB interface, electrical specifications, supply of external power, etc. are standardized,
The installation standard of the USB interface connector provided in the external peripheral device main body is not standardized, and different connector forms are currently adopted depending on each manufacturer, each product type, and each product form. For example,
Among peripheral devices connected to the USB interface, there are a type having a B plug socket 18 in the device body and a type having a USB interface cable provided with the A plug 12 from the device body. When these devices different from each other are mixed and connected, the connector type of the USB interface cable must be confirmed in advance. Further, when the apparatus main body is equipped with the B plug socket 18, there is the trouble that the connection must be made using the USB interface cable.

Further, as described above, when a plurality of external peripheral devices equipped with a USB interface are used by connecting to the USB interface, the external peripheral devices are connected via a hub unit,
It is essential to configure and connect in a tree shape, and depending on the number of external peripheral devices to be connected, multiple hub units and USB interface cables will be added, and external peripheral devices connected to the USB interface Differences in various connector types, increase in hub unit installation space when connecting multiple external peripheral devices using a hub unit, troublesome cable routing, increased system construction cost, and connection in mobile devices In the case of, there was an inconvenience such as impairing portability.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an interface connector capable of connecting a host device (personal computer) and a plurality of external peripheral devices easily, inexpensively and in a small space.

[0012]

To achieve the above object, the structure of an interface connector of the present invention is an interface connector for connecting an upper device and a lower device, and an upper device connected to the host device. A connection unit having a connector, and a plurality of lower side connectors extending from the connection unit via cables, respectively, wherein the connection unit is a hub circuit for connecting the upper side connector and the plurality of lower side connectors. It is characterized by including.

Preferably, the interface connector is a USB interface connector conforming to the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard.

With this configuration, an interface connector having a hub function is provided, and the host device and a plurality of peripheral devices can be directly connected regardless of the conventional connection form via the hub unit. The installation space of the hub unit is reduced, and the wiring / connection work is simplified and facilitated, and an inexpensive system configuration is possible.

Further, preferably, in the interface connector of the present invention, a power supply connector 30 for connecting to an external power supply may be built in the connection unit or connected to the connection unit via a cable.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In the following embodiments, a USB interface connector conforming to the USB interface will be described.
The present invention is not limited to the USB interface and can be applied to other interfaces. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 shows a US according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a connection structural example of a B interface connector. In the USB interface connector 1 of the present embodiment, U
In the SB interface, the host device (host P
The hub circuit 20 is provided in the A plug unit 10 that is integrally formed with the A plug 12 that is the upper-side connector connected to C).
Built-in, a plurality of cables extend from the A plug unit 10, and the lower end device (peripheral device)
A lower connector is provided to connect with. In FIG. 1, as an example, four cables extend from the A plug unit 10, and two cables of the cables are provided with a B plug 16, which is a lower connector, at the tips. B
The plug 16 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HD
It is inserted into a B plug socket 18 (not shown) provided in D) and connected. Further, the other two cables are connected to the A plug socket 14 which is another lower connector. The A plug socket 14 is, for example, an A plug 1 extending from a mouse (MOUSE) or a flexible disk drive (FDD) via a cable.
2 (not shown) insertion port, which can be connected to the A plug 12.

FIG. 2 shows a US according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the block structural example of a B interface connector. The USB interface connector 1 is an A plug unit 10 having an A plug 12 and a hub circuit 20.
And a plurality of lower connectors (at least one of the A plug socket 14 and the B plug 16) connected to the A plug unit 10 via cables. The internal control of the hub circuit 20 built in the A plug unit 10 is basically performed by the above-mentioned FIG.
Substantially similar to the hub unit shown in FIG. That is, by incorporating the hub circuit 20 into the A plug unit 10, the A plug unit 10 integrated with the A plug 12 functions as a hub unit.

Hub control IC 22 of hub circuit 20
Is an A plug 12 connected to an A plug socket 14 (not shown) provided in a higher-level device (for example, a host PC)
And a plurality of lower side connectors (that is, A plug socket 14 and B plug 16) for connecting to a lower side device.
Control signals transmitted through the one-to-many connector.

When the hub circuit 20 has the self power mode, as shown in the drawing, the A plug unit 1
0 has a power supply connector 30 for connecting to an external power supply, and the power IC 24 in the hub circuit 20 supplies the power from the power supply connector 30 to the hub control IC 22.
From the hub control IC 22 to each lower connector (A
Power is supplied to the lower device via the plug socket 14 or the B plug 16). The regulator IC 26 is a hub control IC depending on the power required by the lower device.
Adjust the power supply to 22. The power connector 3
When the external power supply is not connected to 0, the hub circuit 20 operates in the bus power mode, the power IC 24 supplies the power supplied from the host PC through the A plug 12 to the hub control IC 22, and the hub control IC 2
Power is supplied from 2 to the lower device via the A plug socket 14 or the B plug 16.

Since each IC chip forming the hub circuit 20 can be made very small (for example, about several millimeters square) by using a bare chip, for example,
The A plug unit 10 including the hub circuit 20 can be configured to be sufficiently smaller than the hub unit.

3 to 11 are views showing various forms of the USB interface connector of the present invention. In the USB interface connector of the present invention, as described above, the hub circuit 20 is built in the A plug 12 which is the upper connector, and the lower connector (A plug socket 14) is provided at each of the tips of the plurality of cables extending from the A plug 12. Alternatively, the B plug 16) or the power connector is connected.

FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of the USB interface connector of the present invention, which is an A plug unit 1
An example of a USB interface connector in which four cables extend from 0 and B plugs 16 are provided at the respective ends is shown. Each B plug 16 is an A plug unit 1
It is connected to the A plug 12 via the hub circuit 20 built in the 0.

FIG. 4 shows a second example of the USB interface connector of the present invention, which is an A plug unit 1
A USB interface connector in which four cables extend from 0 and an A plug socket 14 is provided at each tip is illustrated. Each A plug socket 14 is A
It is connected to the A plug 12 via a hub circuit 20 built in the plug unit 10.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the USB interface connector of the present invention, which is an A plug unit 1
Four cables extend from 0, two cables of which are provided with an A plug socket 14 and the remaining two cables are provided with a B plug 16 which is a USB.
An interface connector is illustrated.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth example of the USB interface connector of the present invention, which is an A plug unit 1
An example is a USB interface connector in which three cables extend from 0, A plug sockets 14 are provided in each, and the A plug unit 10 has a built-in power supply connector 30 for obtaining an external power supply. The power connector 30 is connected to the power IC 24 and the regulator IC 26 for controlling the supplied external power in the hub circuit 20. By inserting a pin connector from an external power supply into the power supply connector 30, the external power supply is supplied to the USB interface connector.

FIG. 7 shows a fifth example of the USB interface connector of the present invention, which is an A plug unit 1
From 0 to 3 cables, each with a B plug 16
Is provided and the A plug unit 10 exemplifies a USB interface connector having a built-in power supply connector 30.

FIG. 8 shows a sixth example of the USB interface connector of the present invention, which is an A plug unit 1
An example is a USB interface connector in which 0 to 4 cables extend, three cables of which are provided with a B plug 16 and the remaining one cable is provided with a power supply connector 30.

FIG. 9 shows a seventh embodiment of the USB interface connector of the present invention, which is an A plug unit 1
Four cables extend from 0, three cables of which are provided with the A plug socket 14, and the remaining one cable is provided with the power connector 30 U
3 illustrates an SB interface connector.

FIG. 10 shows an eighth example of the USB interface connector of the present invention, in which three cables extend from the A plug unit 10 and two cables out of which the B plug 16 is provided. , A USB cable in which the other plug is provided with the B plug 16 and the A plug unit 10 has a built-in power supply connector 30.
An interface connector is illustrated.

FIG. 11 shows a ninth embodiment of the USB interface connector of the present invention, in which four cables extend from the A plug unit 10 and two cables out of which the A plug socket 14 is provided. The other one cable is provided with the B plug 16 and the remaining one cable is provided with the power connector 30.
An interface connector is illustrated.

In the USB interface connector according to the present embodiment, the number of cables extending from the A plug unit 10 containing the hub circuit 20 is not limited to that in the above embodiment. According to the USB standard, the hub circuit 20 can accommodate a maximum of 127 USB ports on the lower side. Therefore, in principle, a maximum of 127 USB lower side connectors are provided from the A plug 12 that is the upper side connector. A length of cable, and optionally a cable provided with the power connector 30 may extend.

According to the USB standard, the maximum length of one cable is 5 meters, and a maximum of 5 stages of hubs can be connected. Therefore, by connecting 6 interface connectors of the present embodiment, the maximum length of 30 meters can be achieved. Can be secured.

The USB in the embodiment of the present invention
The interface connector is the existing USB standard US
It is applicable to B1.0, USB2.0, and all new USB standards that will be standardized in the future.

Further, the embodiment of the present invention described above is US
The invention is not limited to the B interface, and can be applied to another interface standard for connecting the host device on the upper side and the peripheral device on the lower side.

The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but extends to the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an interface connector having a hub function for connecting the upper side connector and the plurality of lower side connectors. For example,
When the present invention is applied to a USB interface connector conforming to the USB interface, the A plug unit 10 having the A plug 12 which is the upper connector has the hub circuit 20 for executing the hub function built therein. 12 can be directly connected to a plurality of lower connectors (A plug socket 14 or B plug 16) extending from the A plug unit 10 integrally formed therewith via a cable. In this way, by integrating the interface cable and the hub function, conventionally, two-step connection work of connecting the host PC and the hub unit and connecting the hub unit and the peripheral device has been performed with the host PC and the peripheral device. Can be directly connected, and the connection work (system configuration) can be performed simply, easily, and inexpensively. Further, since the hub unit installation space conventionally occupied by the hub unit is not required, it contributes to the space saving of the entire system. Further, by diversifying the types of lower-side connectors to be connected to the A plug 12, it becomes possible to connect with peripheral devices having various connection modes with only one interface connector of the present invention. Further, the power connector 30 connected to the external power source is also the A plug unit 10
It can be operated in self-powered mode by being built in or connected to a cable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a USB interface connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration example of an A plug unit 10.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first form example of a USB interface connector of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second example of the USB interface connector of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a third form example of the USB interface connector of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a fourth form example of the USB interface connector of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a fifth example of the USB interface connector of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a sixth form example of the USB interface connector of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a seventh example of the USB interface connector of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an eighth example of the USB interface connector of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a ninth form example of the USB interface connector of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a hub (HU) in the USB interface.
B) is a configuration diagram in the case where the host device and a plurality of peripheral devices are connected via a unit.

FIG. 13 shows an external configuration of a hub unit.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a block configuration example of a hub unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 USB interface connector 10 A plug unit (connection unit) 12 A plug (upper side connector) 14 A plug socket (lower side connector) 16 B plug (lower side connector) 18 B plug socket 20 hub circuit 22 Hub control IC 24 Power IC 26 Regulator IC 30 power connector 30

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An interface connector for connecting a higher-level device and a lower-level device, comprising: a connection unit having a higher-level connector for connecting to the higher-level device; and a plurality of connection units each extending from the connection unit via a cable. An interface connector, comprising: a lower connector, wherein the connection unit includes a hub circuit for connecting the upper connector and the plurality of lower connectors. 2. The U according to claim 1, which conforms to the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard.
An interface connector, which is an SB interface connector. 3. The upper connector according to claim 2, wherein the upper connector is an A plug, and the plurality of lower connectors are A plug sockets or B plugs.
An interface connector having at least one of plugs. 4. The interface connector according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply connector for connecting to an external power supply. 5. The interface connector according to claim 4, wherein the power supply connector is built in the connection unit. 6. The interface connector according to claim 4, wherein the power supply connector is provided at a tip of a cable extending from the connection unit.