KR101477056B1 - Method and apparatus for checking device connecting with potable device - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for discriminating an external device connected to a portable terminal.

The present invention distinguishes an external device connected to a connector unit using a port included in a control unit as a general-purpose serial bus device group and a standard common pin connector device group, and identifies devices belonging to the device group, for example, A universal serial bus device, a charging universal serial bus device, a dedicated charger, and the like.

USB for communication, USB for charging, TA

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for identifying an external device connected to a portable terminal,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for identifying an external device connected to a portable terminal, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for identifying a type of external device connected to various interfaces of a portable terminal.

In recent years, portable terminals have been widely used in many fields because they are easy to carry and store various programs and are excellent in utilization. Among the mobile communication terminals, users and service subscribers are explosively increasing due to the feature that voice communication is possible while moving.

The above-mentioned portable terminal is very large in size and large in size so that it can be said to be portable because it is very large in size for stabilization of battery and other elements at the beginning. However, recently, due to the development of the device and the development of the battery, the weight and the size are very small, and the thickness of the portable terminal is also becoming very thin.

In order to charge the portable terminal, a cable connecting the portable terminal and the charger may be provided. In addition, the portable terminal may provide a connector interface through which the cable can be connected. The connector interface can be used not only as a path for connecting the charger of the portable terminal but also as a channel for supporting USB communication of the portable terminal.

Meanwhile, the number of pins allocated to the connector of the portable terminal is limited, while the number of external devices connected to the connector of the portable terminal is gradually increasing. Accordingly, there is a case where the pins assigned to the connector of the portable terminal are commonly allocated to external devices of different types and used. However, in a situation where the operation of the portable terminal operates differently according to the type of the external device, the use of the common pin may seriously damage the portable terminal control circuit or the external device. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for a method and an apparatus for correctly discriminating the type of an external device connected to a portable terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for correctly discriminating the type of an external device connected to an interface of the same portable terminal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of determining an external device connected to a portable terminal, the method comprising: determining whether an external device is connected based on a voltage state of a first port formed in a controller; Determining a type of an external device based on a voltage state of a second port included in the control unit; And a step of discriminating the type of the external device among the group of the discriminated types based on the voltage state of the data port included in the control part.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for identifying an external apparatus connected to a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising: a controller including a first port, a second port, and a data port; A first connector unit to which a universal serial bus device group is connected; And a second connector unit to which a standard common pin connector device group is connected, wherein the control unit determines whether or not an external device is connected based on a voltage state of the first port, The type of the external device is discriminated and the type of the external device among the discriminated types of the data port based on the voltage state of the data port is discriminated.

As described above, according to the method and apparatus for identifying an external apparatus connected to the portable terminal proposed in the present invention, the type of external apparatus connected to the portable terminal can be correctly determined.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, only parts necessary for understanding the operation according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described, and the description of other parts will be omitted so as not to disturb the gist of the present invention.

The terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as limited to ordinary or dictionary meanings and the inventor is not limited to the meaning of the terms in order to describe his invention in the best way. It should be interpreted as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described in the present specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the technical ideas of the present invention are described. Therefore, It is to be understood that equivalents and modifications are possible.

For example, an external device that can be connected to the connector of the portable terminal will be described as a charger and a USB device. However, an external device that can be connected to the portable terminal of the present invention may be a notebook, a PDA, a desktop computer, a game machine, an external memory, etc., as well as a charger or a USB device. That is, the external device of the present invention can be understood as including an apparatus that is connected to the connector unit of the mobile terminal and is capable of performing communication with a device that supplies power.

Hereinafter, the mobile terminal of the present invention is described as a mobile communication terminal having a radio frequency unit, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the portable terminal of the present invention includes a terminal having a connector and connected to an external device and capable of supporting a corresponding function of the external device.

Hereinafter, an external device of a portable terminal will be schematically described with reference to FIG. 1, prior to describing an external device determination method and apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device and a dedicated charger (Travel Adapter) among external devices that can be connected to a connector portion of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the dedicated charger is an example of a configuration having a standard common pin connector structure, and will be described as an example of an external device having a standard common pin connector structure such as a 20-pin or 24-pin connector. That is, the portable terminal of the present invention distinguishes between the universal serial bus device group connected to the first connector portion and the standard common pin connector device group connected to the second connector portion, and discriminates the actual external device type of each external device group And can support the function of the external device.

Referring to FIG. 1, the portable terminal 100, which performs control according to the type of the external device of the present invention, includes a first connector 141 having an interface structure to which a USB device can be connected, And a second connector portion 143 having an interface structure.

In more detail, when the external device is the USB device 200, in particular, the USB device for communication, the USB device 220 for communication must be connected to the first connector 140. When the USB device for communication is connected to the first connector 141, the portable terminal 100 activates the communication mode and reads the information stored in the USB device 220 for communication or transmits the information stored in the portable device 100 to the USB device (200). If the device having the USB interface is a PC or a notebook, the USB device for communication may further include a connection line, for example, a cable, which may be connected to the first connector 140 of the portable terminal 100.

On the other hand, when the external device has a USB interface and is a device for charging, that is, a charging USB device 210, the charging USB device 210 may be connected to the first connector 141. At this time, the portable terminal 100 correctly recognizes the charging USB device 210 and activates the charging mode, and transmits the charging power supplied from the charging USB device 210 to the battery through the controller to charge the battery . In other words, the charging USB device 210 is connected to the first connector part 140 of the portable terminal 100 via a cable, and connected to a socket or the like for supplying power to the other side, To the portable terminal (100). At this time, it is preferable that the charging USB device 210 adjusts the high-potential power provided by the socket to a potential of a size that can be accommodated in the portable terminal 100. Also, the charging USB device 210 can supply power using the maximum rated current having a certain margin that the battery 100 can allow and the battery 100 to charge the battery of the portable terminal 100 at a high speed.

When the external device is a dedicated charger 300 of the portable terminal, for example, a travel adapter, the dedicated charger 300 may be connected to the portable terminal 100 through the second connector unit 143. Similar to the charging USB device 210, the dedicated charger 300 has a structure that can be connected to a socket and a structure that can be connected to the second connector portion 143. [ For example, in the case where the second connector portion 143 has a 20-pin connection structure or a 24-pin connection structure, a region where the dedicated charger 300 is connected to the second connector portion 143 is a 20- Structure corresponding to the structure.

Here, the portable terminal 100 is short-circuited with the input / output port capable of discriminating the connection of the dedicated charger 300 and the input / output port capable of discriminating the connection of the USB device. Accordingly, the portable terminal 100 of the present invention determines the type of each external device based on signals transmitted and received after the external device is connected. This will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the portable terminal 100 includes a radio frequency unit 110, a display unit 120, a memory 130, a connector unit 140, a battery 170, and a controller 160 . Here, the radio frequency unit 110 may be omitted as a necessary configuration when the mobile terminal 100 is a mobile communication terminal.

First, the radio frequency unit 110 transmits and receives signals related to mobile phone communication, SMS (Short Message Service), or multimedia message service (MMS) and data communication. The radio frequency unit 110 converts voice / sound data, control data, and the like into radio signals, transmits the radio signals, converts the radio signals into voice / sound data, control data, and the like. To this end, the radio frequency unit 110 includes a radio frequency transmitter for up-converting and amplifying the frequency of a transmitted signal, a radio frequency receiver for low-noise amplifying the received signal and down-converting the frequency. When the charging USB device 210 or the dedicated charger 300 is connected to the connector unit 140, the RF unit 110 controls the charging USB device 210 or the dedicated charger 300, under the control of the controller 160. [ And can be operated by supplying power directly from the power supply 300. When the communication USB device 220 is connected, the radio frequency unit 110 can wirelessly transmit information stored in the communication USB device 220 to the outside under the control of the controller 160. [

The display unit 120 displays image data output from the controller 160, user data requested by the user, and an additional function screen. The display unit 120 may display a basic screen of the portable terminal, that is, a standby screen, a menu screen, an information list display screen stored in the memory 130, and the like. Here, the display unit 120 may include an LCD or the like. When the display unit 120 is formed of a panel such as a touch screen, it may function as an input unit. In particular, the display unit 120 of the present invention may display a different screen interface according to an external device connected to the connector unit 140. That is, when the charging USB device 210 or the dedicated charger 300 is connected to the connector 140, the display unit 120 determines that the charging USB device 210 or the dedicated charger 300 is connected for a predetermined period of time The ali can output a pop-up message or an image corresponding thereto. The display unit 120 may display the battery remaining amount indication charged by the charging USB device 210 or the dedicated charger 300 in real time. The display unit 120 may output a pop-up message or an image corresponding to the connection of the USB device 220 for communication when the USB device 220 is connected to the connector 140. The display unit 120 can read the information list stored in the communication USB device 220 under the control of the control unit 160 and output it. Here, the display unit 120 may output an image or an icon corresponding to a communication mode for performing signal transmission / reception with the communication USB device 220 until the information stored in the communication USB device 220 is grasped. The display unit 120 may output an image corresponding to an alarm indicating that the external device is disconnected when the external device is detached from the connector unit 140. These alarms are preferably temporarily removed and then removed. After the alarm is temporarily activated, the display unit 120 can turn off the power supplied for light irradiation according to the sleep mode switching for power saving under the control of the controller 160. [

The memory 130 may store an operating system for booting the portable terminal, and application programs for various functions of the portable terminal, such as a file playback function, a camera function, and a broadcast viewing function. Also, the memory 130 may store user data generated according to the use of the portable terminal, data received through the communication channel, and the like. To this end, the memory 130 may include program memory and data memories. In particular, the memory 160 of the present invention may include an external device distinction table according to a signal for identifying an external device.

The program memory stores application programs for supporting the above-described functions, and may store various application programs for supporting external devices. For example, if the external device is a mobile commerce module and the mobile terminal 100 supports a mobile commerce function, the mobile terminal 100 stores a mobile commerce application program for supporting a mobile commerce service. Similarly, when a notebook or the like is connected as a USB device among external devices of the portable terminal 100, the program memory stores a communication mode supporting application program for automatic connection with a notebook computer and data transmission / reception, .

The data memory stores data generated during the execution of the programs, and configuration information related to a mobile commerce function according to an embodiment of the present invention. At this time, the data memory can store each data in the form of a database. Particularly, the data memory stores an external device discrimination table according to a signal. When the external device is connected to the connector unit 140, the data memory can be loaded into the controller 170 under the control of the controller 170.

The connector unit 140 has an interface through which external devices, that is, the charging USB device 210, the USB device for communication 220, and the special charger 300 can be connected. To this end, the connector unit 140 includes a first connector 141 having a USB interface structure to which a charging USB device and a communication USB device can be connected, and a second connector unit 141 to which the dedicated charger 300 can be connected. (143). The connector 140 preferably has a structure for supporting stable fixing after the external device is connected. That is, when the connection structure of the external device is formed of a hook-shaped structure, the connector 140 provides a path through which the hook is drawn, and after the connection is completed, have. The connector unit 140 may vary depending on the type of the portable terminal 100, the designer's intention, the terminal version, and the like. For example, the connector unit 140 may include a USB interface structure, a UART interface structure, Lt; / RTI > Each pin formed in the connector 140 is a common pin and may be commonly assigned to a plurality of external apparatuses.

The battery 170 supplies power necessary for each of the above-described configurations. The battery 170 may be a secondary battery or a chemical battery which can be charged and discharged many times. The battery 170 according to the embodiment of the present invention charges the external power source, that is, the charging USB device 210 and the charger 300, under the control of the controller 170.

The controller 160 controls the overall operation of the portable terminal and the signal flow between the internal blocks of the portable terminal. The control unit 160 controls the signal flow between the external device connected to the connector unit 140, the battery 170 and other portable terminal internal configurations according to the embodiment of the present invention. That is, the controller 160 determines the type of the external device connected to the connector 140, and controls each configuration of the portable terminal 100 according to the type of the external device. The external device type discrimination of the controller 160 and the terminal control according to the type of the external device will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a connection relationship between a control circuit and a connector of the portable terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an external device identification table according to a signal. Prior to the explanation, each configuration shown in FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining the terminal control according to the external device of the present invention. When the functions of the portable terminal 100 are performed according to other functions or connections of other external devices, an additional configuration may be further included. Prior to the following description, when the USB device is for charging, that is, in the case of the charging USB device, the first signal line (D +) and the second signal line (D-) in the charging USB device can maintain a short- .

3 and 4, in the external device discriminating apparatus of the present invention,

The first connector 141 of the external device to which the USB device 200 is connected is connected to the first high potential voltage line High1, the first signal line D +, the second signal line D- and the ground line GND ). The second connector portion 143, to which the dedicated charger 300 is connected, includes a second high voltage line High2 and a ground line GND.

The controller 170 includes a first port (USB / TA_DET) for detecting connection of the USB device 200 and a dedicated charger 300 and a second port A first data port DP + and a second data port DP- connected to the first signal line D + and the second signal line D- formed in the USB device 200 . The first port USB / TA_DET of the control unit is connected to the first high potential voltage line High1 of the first connector unit 141 and the second high potential voltage line High2 of the second connector unit 143, ) Are connected at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 4, the portable terminal of the present invention having such a configuration can identify the type of the external device based on the status of each port, the input voltage, and the status of the signal lines, and perform the corresponding operation.

In more detail, when the first port (USB / TA_DET) is in a high state, the second port USB_DET is in a low state, and the first high voltage line (High1) ), A voltage is not supplied to the second high potential voltage line (High2), a first data port (DP +) is in a high state and a second data port (DP-) is in a low state The control unit 170 can determine that the connected external device is a standard USB device, that is, the USB device 220 for communication. Here, the first port (USB / TA_DET) transitions to a high state when an external device is connected. That is, when the USB device 200 is connected to the first connector unit 141 or the dedicated charger 300 is connected to the second connector unit 143, the state transitions from the low state to the high state. Accordingly, the controller 170 can confirm whether or not the external device is connected according to the change in the state of the first port (USB / TA_DET). The second port USB_DET maintains a high state in a state where a separate external device is not connected to the first connector 141 and a USB device for communication among the external devices is connected It changes to a low state. The pull-up voltage is also formed in the same first signal line (D +), and the first data port (DP +) connected to the first signal line (D +) maintains a high state in a state where no external device is connected . When the external device is not connected, the second data port DP- connected to the second signal line D- maintains a low state.

On the other hand, when the first port (USB / TA_DET) is in the high state, the second port USB_DET is in the high state, there is no voltage supply from the first high potential voltage line (High1) The controller 170 supplies a valid voltage from the high potential voltage line High2 and the first data port DP + is in a high state and the second data port DP- is in a low state, Can be determined as a standard dedicated charger (i.e., a dedicated charger 300).

When the first port (USB / TA_DET) is in the high state and the second port USB_DET is in the low state and the high voltage is supplied from the first high potential voltage line High1 And the second data port DP- is in a low state, the voltage is also supplied from the second high voltage line High2, and when the first data port DP + is in a high state and the second data port DP- is in a low state, The controller 170 can determine the connected external device as a new concept USB cable (New Concepts USB cable). Here, the new concept USB cable shorts the D + and D- terminals of the TA stage standardized by China CTTL (New Business Division), shorts the TA5V and USB5V of the 20 pin connector, and provides a 5V Means a USB cable that satisfies the structure of being connected from one power cable. Accordingly, the USB cable of the new concept can be a cable that can receive the charging power from an external device among the USB devices for communication. For example, when the external device is a notebook, a new concept of a USB cable may have a structure capable of transmitting the power of the notebook to the portable terminal.

Finally, when the first port (USB / TA_DET) is in a high state, the second port USB_DET is in a low state, and the first high voltage line (High1) And the voltage is also supplied from the second high potential voltage line High2 and the first data port DP + is in the high state and the second data port DP- is in the high state , The control unit 170 can determine the external device to be connected as the new concept USB device 210 for charging. A new concept is that the charging USB device 210 shorts the first signal line D + and the second signal line D- so that the pull-up voltage hung on the first signal line D + 210 to the second signal line (D-). Accordingly, the first data port DP + and the second data port DP- respectively sense a high state.

As described above, the portable terminal of the present invention can be connected to the connector 140 (140) using a first port (USB / TA_DET), a second port (USB_DET), a first data port (DP +), and a second data port The type of the external device to be connected can be determined. The mobile terminal 100 can control the mobile terminal 100 to perform an appropriate operation according to the identified external device type. As described above, the mobile terminal 100 of the present invention determines an external device based on the state of a signal transmitted and received between external devices, without adding any additional hardware to identify the external device, and performs control of the device can do.

In the foregoing, the configuration for determining the type of the external device connected to the portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described. Hereinafter, a method of determining an external device connected to a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

5 is a diagram illustrating a method for identifying an external device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5, in step S101, the controller 170 checks the status of the first port (USB / TA_DET) and determines whether the status of the first port (USB / TA_DET) When the state is changed from the low state to the high state, the controller 170 determines that the external device is connected. The first port (USB / TA_DET) is changed to a high state when an external device is connected to the first connector portion 141 and the second connector portion 143. Accordingly, when the first port USB / TA_DET is in the high state, the controller 170 determines that the external device is connected to at least one of the first connector 141 and the second connector 143 . Accordingly, the controller 170 determines the next step branch according to the first port state in step S103. That is, if there is no status change of the first port (USB / TA_DET) in step S103, the control unit 170 branches to step S101.

If the first port (USB / TA_DET) is in the high state in step S103, the controller 170 branches to step S105 and activates the ISR (Interrupt Service Routine). The ISR, which is an interrupt service routine, controls a control unit authority according to an external device connection, and may mean a process of acquiring a control right to support a corresponding function according to the type of an external device.

Next, in step S107, the controller 170 determines whether the state of the second port USB_DET is high or low. The second port (USB_DET) receives the USB5V voltage from the USB device when the USB device is connected. Accordingly, the controller 170 can confirm whether or not the USB device is connected to the first connector 141 through the change of the state of the second port USB_DET.

If the second port USB_DET is in a high state, the controller 170 determines whether the external device is a dedicated charger 300 by branching to step S109. In step S117, And performs a charging function.

If the second port USB_DET is low in step S107, the controller 170 determines whether the second data port DP- is in a high state or a low state in step S111 . The second data port DP- can confirm whether or not the USB device is connected to the first connector 141. [ When the pull-up voltage is applied to the second data port DP-, maintaining the high state may indicate a state in which the USB device is not connected. Accordingly, if the second data port DP- is changed to the low state in step S111, the controller 170 branches the external device connected in step S113 to a new concept USB device, that is, Device, and branches to step S117 to perform the battery charging function of the portable terminal 100. [

On the other hand, if the state of the second data port DP- is high, the controller 170 determines that the external device connected to the portable terminal 100 is the USB device 220 for communication, and branches to step S117 Perform the corresponding function.

As described above, the portable terminal of the present invention checks the voltage state between the first port and the second port, the first data port, and the second data port to determine whether the external device is connected and the type of the connected external device can do. Accordingly, the portable terminal can perform normal program loading and activation to activate the connected external device.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and similarities. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the illustrated embodiments, but should be determined by the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a portable terminal and external devices connected thereto according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a more detailed view of the structure of the control unit and connector of the present invention,

4 is a diagram showing a table referred to by the control unit of the present invention to identify an external device,

5 is a flowchart illustrating an external device determination method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (16)

Determining whether an external device is connected to the connector portion including the first connector portion and the second connector portion based on the voltage state of the first port formed in the control portion; Determining whether a connector portion to which the external device is connected is a first connector portion, based on a voltage state of a second port included in the control portion, when the external device is connected to the connector portion; And And determining the type of the external device connected to the first connector unit based on the voltage state of the data port included in the control unit if the connector unit to which the external device is connected is the first connector unit To the portable terminal. The method according to claim 1, The first port Wherein the connection signal of the universal serial bus device group connected to the first connector portion and the connection signal of the standard common pin connector device group connected to the second connector portion are input to the external device Identification method. The method according to claim 1, The second port And a port to which a connection signal from a universal serial bus device connected to the first connector unit is input. The method according to claim 1, The data port And a first data port and a second data port through which a data signal according to a universal serial bus device connected to the first connector unit is transmitted. The method according to claim 1, The process of determining whether the external device is connected to the first connector unit A process of determining the external device as a universal serial bus device group or And determining that the external device is a standard common pin connector device group. 6. The method of claim 5, If the external device is a universal serial bus device, the process of determining the type of the external device Determining that the external device is a charging universal serial bus device; And A step of discriminating the external device as a universal serial bus device for communication; The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one external device is a portable device. The method according to claim 6, The charging universal serial bus device Wherein the signal line connected to the first data port and the second data port included in the data port is kept short-circuited. 6. The method of claim 5, If the external device is a standard common pin connector device group, the process of determining the type of the external device And determining that the external device is a dedicated charger. A control unit including a first port, a second port, and a data port; And a connector portion including a first connector portion to which a universal serial bus device group is connected and a second connector portion to which a standard common pin connector device group is connected, The control unit The controller determines whether or not an external device is connected to the connector unit based on the voltage state of the first port and when the external device is connected to the connector unit, It is determined whether or not the additional connector is the first connector portion. If the connector portion to which the external device is connected is the first connector portion, the type of the external device connected to the first connector portion is discriminated on the basis of the voltage state of the data port The external device identification device being connected to the portable terminal. 10. The method of claim 9, The first port Wherein the connection signal of the universal serial bus device group connected to the first connector portion and the connection signal of the standard common pin connector device group connected to the second connector portion are input to the external device Discrimination device. 10. The method of claim 9, The second port And a port to which a connection signal from the universal serial bus device group connected to the first connector unit is input. 10. The method of claim 9, The data port And a first data port and a second data port through which a data signal according to the universal serial bus device group connected to the first connector unit is transmitted. 10. The method of claim 9, The control unit And determines whether the external device is a universal serial bus device group or a standard common pin connector device group based on whether an external device is connected to the first connector through the voltage state of the second port An external device identification device. 14. The method of claim 13, If the external device is a universal serial bus device group, And determines the external device as a charging universal serial bus device or a universal serial bus device for communication according to the data port signal status. 15. The method of claim 14, The charging universal serial bus device Wherein the signal line connected to the first data port and the second data port included in the data port is kept short-circuited. 14. The method of claim 13, If the external device is a standard common pin connector device group, And the external device is identified as a dedicated charger.

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