KR20030056129A - Usb optical extention apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An optical USB(Universal Serial Bus) extension module is provided to make an attachable or detachable optical fiber transmit or receive USB signals, to recognize an attachment of the optical fiber, and to control a USB bus according to the attachment state. CONSTITUTION: The module comprises a host module(10) and a device module(20). The host module(10) includes transmission components(110-116), receiving components(150-155), the first bus controller(102), a signal direction controller(156), and switches(103, 104). The device module(20) includes receiving components(120-125), transmission components(140-146), the second bus controller(132), a signal direction controller(126), and switches(133, 134). The host module(10) and the device module(20) are freely assembled with or separated from an optical fiber. The transmission components(110-116, 140-146) select one between two differential signals transmitted by an external device, convert the selected differential signal into a high signal having a regular level for an SE0(Single End 0) interval, generate an optical signal according to the converted signal, and transmit the optical signal to the optical fiber. The receiving components(150-155, 120-125) slice the optical signal transmitted by the optical fiber, restore the sliced optical signals to an original USB signal transmitted by the external device, detect the attachment of the optical USB extension module to the optical fiber, and transmit the detected attachment state data to the bus controllers(102, 132).

Description

USB optical expansion unit {USB OPTICAL EXTENTION APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a USB expansion device, in particular, a removable optical fiber that can transmit and receive a USB (Universal Serial Bus (USB) (hereinafter referred to as USB)) signal, and also recognizes the fastening state of the optical fiber is recognized The present invention relates to a USB optical expansion device that enables control of a USB bus according to a fastening state.

Conventional USB signal pin configuration consists of power supply (5V) line, D + signal line, D- signal line, and ground (GND) line, the dual signal line (Signal Line) is D + and D- Although it is composed of a differential signal of, a specific part of the signal (Signal) has a single end zero (SE0) section (hereinafter referred to as SE0 section) in which D + and D- are simultaneously "LOW".

In the conventional USB optical extension module (USB Optical Extension Module) is an optical fiber is coupled to the optical extension module (Optical Extension Module) is integrated with the optical extension module (Optical Extension Module), which is inconvenient to carry, There was a problem that the production process is complicated and the production cost is high.

In addition, since the conventional USB optical expansion module is integrated with the optical cable and the optical expansion module, the user cannot arbitrarily select the length of the optical cable and cannot use the optical communication network (optical cable network) already configured in the home or office. There was this.

In addition, the conventional USB optical expansion module has a problem that can not determine the fastening state of the optical cable, and also if the optical cable is separated from the optical expansion module and then re-fastened, it is not recognized again.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, it is possible to transmit and receive the USB signal to the removable optical fiber, and also to recognize the fastening state of the optical fiber can control the USB bus according to the recognized fastening state It is an object of the present invention to provide a USB optical expansion device.

1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the USB optical expansion apparatus according to the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a signal waveform in each component part of the USB optical expansion device according to the present invention;

3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of an output of a light emitting device for detecting a single longitudinal zero (SE0) section in accordance with the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an optical expansion device using one optical fiber according to the present invention;

* Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawing

10: host side optical expansion module 20: device side optical expansion module

30, 40: optical fiber 100, 101, 130, 131: data terminal

102, 132: bus controller 103, 104, 133, 134: switch

110, 142: SE0 section detector 111, 113, 141, 143: voltage-to-current converter

114, 144: Signal adder 115, 145: Light emitting element driver

116 and 146: light emitting elements 120 and 150: light receiving elements

121, 151: current-to-voltage conversion and amplifier 122, 152: signal detector

123, 124, 153, 154: comparators 125, 155: signal subtractor

126, 156: signal direction controller

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention receives a USB signal from an external device and transmits it through an optical fiber, or receives and transmits a USB signal transmitted through the optical fiber to the external device, and the detachment of the optical fiber is performed. In a possible USB optical expansion device, a signal having one of two differential signals transmitted from the external device is selected, and the selected differential signal having a "HIGH" state of a predetermined level in the SE0 section. Transmission means for generating an optical signal according to the converted differential signal and transmitting the optical signal to the optical fiber after converting the signal to the optical fiber; Slice the voltage signal for the optical signal transmitted through the optical fiber according to a predetermined level to restore the USB signal transmitted from the external device, detect the fastening state of the USB optical expansion device and the optical fiber to detect the detected optical fiber Receiving means for transferring fastening state information to the bus control means; Bus control means for operating the USB bus in accordance with the optical fiber fastening state information transmitted from the receiving means; Signal direction control means for generating a control signal for separating the USB signal transmitted from the external device and the USB signal restored by the receiving means received through the optical fiber; And the switching means for switching in accordance with a control signal of the signal direction control means.

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

1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the USB optical expansion apparatus according to the present invention.

USB Optical Extension Module (USB Optical Extension Module) transmits USB signals in bidirectional communication via optical fibers (30, 40) as a medium. Host, Device side) It is possible to transmit USB signal normally when connected to both expansion modules (10, 20).

The signal lines in the USB optical expansion unit are all four strands, and their configuration consists of a power supply (Vcc = 5V) line, a ground (GND) line, a D + signal line, and a D-signal line. It is composed of differential signal, SE0 part is D + signal and D-signal is both “LOW” and bidirectional communication.

The USB optical expansion device is composed of a host side optical expansion module 10 and a device side optical expansion module 20; The host side optical expansion module 10 is composed of a transmitter 110 to 116, a receiver 150 to 155, a first bus controller 102, a signal direction controller 156, and switches 103 and 104. The side light extension module 20 includes a receiver 120 to 125, a transmitter 140 to 146, a second bus controller 132, a signal direction controller 126, and switches 133 and 134. In addition, the host side optical expansion module 10 and the device side optical expansion module 20 have a structure in which the optical fiber can be separated and fastened freely.

Here, the transmitter selects one of the two differential signals transmitted from the external device, converts the selected differential signal into a signal having a "HIGH" state of a constant level in the SE0 interval, and then The optical signal is generated according to the converted differential signal and transmitted to the optical fiber. The receiving unit slices the voltage signal for the optical signal transmitted through the optical fiber according to a predetermined level to restore the USB signal transmitted from the external device, and detects the connection state between the USB optical expansion device and the optical fiber to detect the optical fiber connection state. Pass information to bus control.

Hereinafter, the functions performed by each component will be described first.

The first bus controller 102 and the second bus controller 132 control the bus reset and the USB bus pull-up resistance of the USB bus, and are particularly transmitted from the signal detectors 122 and 152. USB bus is controlled according to the optical fiber connection status information.

Signal converters 112 and 140 convert the two differential signals of USB into a single pulse train signal. That is, the signal converters 112 and 140 convert the SE0 section into a "HIGH" state in one signal arbitrarily selected from two differential signals D + and D-; Specifically, the NOR logic operation is applied to two differential signals of the USB signal to generate a signal in which only the SE0 section is in the "HIGH" state (simply, the SE0 interval signal), and then the generated SE0 interval signal and two differential signals are generated. OR logic operation is performed between one differential signal selected arbitrarily.

The SE0 section detectors 110 and 142 detect a section in which both the D + and D- of the USB signal are "low" and convert it into a pulse signal. That is, by applying the NOR logic operation to the two differential signals D + and D- of the USB signal, only the SE0 section generates a signal (that is, the SE0 section signal) from the two differential signals.

The V-I converters 111, 113, 141, and 143 convert voltage signals into current signals.

Signal adders 114 and 144 perform the function of summing two signals.

The light emitting device drivers 115 and 145 drive the light emitting devices (eg, LEDs and LDs) 116 and 146. In particular, the light emitting device drivers may provide an optical fiber fastening test signal for checking a fastening state of the optical fiber. Is applied to drive the light emitting element. That is, when the USB bus is in the " IDLE " state, the light emitting device is driven by applying a bias current signal to the light emitting device, or the light emitting device is driven by inserting a special pulse column signal.

The I-V converters and amplifiers 121 and 151 convert current signals generated by the light receiving elements 120 and 150 into voltage signals and amplify the changed signals.

The signal reconstructors 123 to 125 and 153 to 155 are comparators and signal subtractors. The signal reconstructors 123 to 125 and 153 to 155 slice the voltage signals transmitted through the optical fiber according to a predetermined level to restore the originally transmitted USB signals. The signal recovery unit will be described by dividing it into a comparator and a signal subtractor.

Comparator 123, 124, 153 and 154 compares the voltage signal converted from the current signal by IV converter and amplifier 121 and 151 to a predetermined voltage level to compare the USB signal level. Convert to Specifically, the comparators 123 and 153 output the SE0 section signal (see "C5" in FIG. 2) in which only the SE0 section is "HIGH" compared with a constant voltage level, and the comparators 124 and 154 have different voltage levels. One differential signal (see "C4" in FIG. 2) of the two differential signals and the other differential signal (see "C3" in FIG. 3) in which the single-ended region is in the "HIGH" state are output.

The signal subtractors 125 and 155 may use the comparator “123” (or “153” in one differential signal “C3” in which the SE0 section is “HIGH” out of the output signals of the comparator “124” (or “154”). Subtract the output signal "C5" of ") to make the SE0 section" LOW ".

On the other hand, the direction controller 126, 156 generates a control signal for separating the signal generated from the host and the signal generated from the device to generate the switch 103, 104, 133, 134). For example, when a signal generated on the host side is transmitted to the light, a signal detected by the device side module, converted into a USB signal, and transmitted to the device is fed back and fed back to the host. To prevent transmission to the

The switches 103, 104, 133, and 134 perform a switching function according to the control signals of the signal direction controllers 126 and 156.

The signal detectors 122 and 152 detect whether the optical fibers 30 and 40 are fastened to the optical expansion modules 10 and 20 and transmit the detected fastening state information to the bus controllers 102 and 132. do. Here, the method for checking the fastening state of the optical fiber, firstly, the light emitting device driver (115), 145 is applied to the light emitting device by applying a bias (BIAS) current to the light emitting device when the optical fiber is the USB bus "IDLE" state If the size of the transmitted USB signal is equal to or greater than a certain level (that is, when the light receiving element detects a certain amount or more of optical signals), it is determined that the optical fiber is normally fastened, and secondly, the light emitting device driver 115 145) When the optical fiber drives a light emitting device by inserting a special pulse string when the USB bus is in the "IDLE" state, if the transmitted USB signal contains a special pulse string signal (i.e., a light receiving unit including a light receiving element) Detects the inserted special pulse train signal, it is determined that the optical fiber is normally connected.

Then, the bus controllers 102 and 132 control the USB bus according to the fastening (connection) state of the optical fibers 30 and 40 to the optical expansion modules 10 and 20. That is, the USB BUS is "on" when the optical fibers 30 and 40 are fastened (connected), and "OFF" when the optical fiber is not fastened (connected).

Hereinafter, the overall operation of the USB optical expansion device will be described.

When a USB signal is generated from the host and enters the SE0 section detector 110 and the signal converter 112, the signal converter 112 on the host side receives a signal of "C1" from the USB signal (see FIG. 2). ), The SE0 section detector 110 detects the SE0 signal included in the USB signal and generates a signal of "C2" (see FIG. 2).

After converting each of the "C1" and "C2" signals into voltage-current (VI) signals and converting the signals into current waveforms, the converted signals are summed (114) and the light emitting device driver for driving the light emitting device 116 (DRIVER) When applied to the (115), the light emitting element 116 is emitted according to the magnitude of the current to be driven to transmit a signal.

The light emitted from the light emitting element 116 passes through the optical fiber 30 to the light receiving element 120, and the light receiving element 120 converts the optical signal into an electric signal (current signal) in proportion to the magnitude of the transmitted light. do.

The converted electric signal (current signal) is converted into a voltage signal by the current-voltage conversion and the amplifier 121 and amplified (see Fig. 2), and inputted to the comparator 123, 124, the input thereof. Electrical signals (voltage signals) are output as signals of "C3", "C4" and "C5" (see FIG. 2) according to the slice level of the comparator 123 and 124, and then calculated. The signal is restored to the original signal and transferred to the device side.

On the other hand, in the above process, the third switch 133 and the fourth switch 134 is controlled by the direction controller (Direction Controller) 126, the signal generated on the host side and transmitted to the device side and the device side Separates the signal that is generated and received.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of signal waveforms in respective components of the USB optical expansion device according to the present invention. FIG.

The signal of USB host signal is composed of D + and D- differential signal, but the specific part of signal has SE0 section where D + and D- are "LOW" at the same time. The host and the device perform bidirectional communication (half-duplex communication) that sends and receives signals through the same line, and in the communication system, a SOP (Start of Packet) is generated from the host and the host ( When the host commands, the device responds to this.

The typical waveform of the USB signal (WAVEFORM) is the same as the D + signal waveform and the D- signal waveform, except for the SE0 section (that is, the section in which both the D + and D- signals are "LOW"). The phases are reversed.

In the drawing, the "C1" signal is the output waveform of the signal converters 112 and 140, the "C2" signal is the output waveform of the SE0 section detectors 110 and 142, the "C3" signal and the "C4" signal are the comparators 124, The output waveform of "154", the "C5" signal, indicates the output waveforms of the comparators 123 and 153.

First, the "C1" signal is an output waveform of the signal converters 112 and 140. After performing a NOR logic operation between the D + signal and the D- signal (the "C2" signal), the resulting signal and the D + signal (D +, D) are performed. Either of which can be selected, but where the D + signal is selected).

The "C2" signal is an output waveform of the SE0 section detectors 110 and 142, and is generated by performing a NOR logic operation between the D + signal and the D- signal.

The outputs of the signal adders 114 and 144 or the light emitting elements 116 and 146 are signals generated by adding the "C1" signal (voltage signal) and the "C2" signal (voltage signal) to each other and then adding them together. It is a signal of the same waveform.

On the other hand, "current-to-voltage conversion and output 2 of the amplifier" is generated by converting and amplifying the current signal for the optical signal transmitted through the optical fiber into a voltage signal. Depending on the type of the current-to-voltage converter and the amplifier, the phase may be reversed as in " output 1 of the current-to-voltage converter and the amplifier ". In this case, after the slice is sliced by the comparator, the phase must be reversed to become the signals "C3", "C4", and "C5".

The "C3" signal, the "C4" signal, and the "C5" signal can be obtained by slicing the "current-voltage conversion and the output 2 of the amplifier" according to level 1 and level 2. Here, it can be seen that the "C3" signal is equal to "C1", the "C4" signal is equal to the D- signal, and the "C5" signal is equal to the "C2" signal.

Subtracting the "C5" signal from the "C3" signal results in a D + signal.

In this way, the D + signal and the D- signal are restored.

3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating an embodiment of an output of a light emitting device for detecting a single longitudinal zero (SE0) section according to the present invention.

The light emitting device drivers 115 and 145 apply two or more driving currents to the light emitting devices 116 and 146 in the SE0 section compared to the general pulse column section in the SE0 section by using the following two methods. Drive the brightness more than twice.

The first method is a driving method for distinguishing these two signals (data string and SE0 signal) when transmitting the general data string included in the USB signal and the SE0 section in transmitting the USB signal. 146) by applying a different driving current for each section (see Fig. 3a).

In the second method, by driving two light emitting elements to focus on an optical fiber, two pulse signals corresponding to the respective light emitting elements are summed to be the same as the signal shown in Fig. 3A (see Fig. 3B).

4 is a configuration diagram of an optical expansion device using one optical fiber according to the present invention.

In the drawings, for convenience, the rest of portions except for the light emitting device and the light receiving device are omitted.

As shown in the figure, one optical fiber 402 is used by using an optical system composed of two reflective mirrors 401 and 401 for each of the host-side USB optical expansion module 10 and the device-side USB optical expansion module 20. Sending and receiving via it is possible.

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, and the above-described embodiments and accompanying It is not limited by the drawings.

The present invention as described above, by detecting the fastening state of the optical fiber has an effect that can control the USB bus in accordance with the detected fastening state of the optical fiber.

In addition, the present invention, by allowing the USB optical expansion device and the optical fiber can be separated, it is more convenient to use the existing optical fiber integrated, and the manufacturing process of the optical fiber can be reduced during manufacturing, thereby reducing the cost.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of enabling the transmission and reception of signals with only one optical fiber by using an optical system composed of a reflecting mirror.

Claims (10)

Receives the Universal Serial Bus (USB) signal from an external device and transmits it through an optical fiber, or receives and transmits a USB signal transmitted through the optical fiber to the external device. In the possible USB optical expansion device, Selecting one of the two differential signals transmitted from the external device, and converting the selected differential signal into a signal having a predetermined level " HIGH " state in a single-ended zero section; Transmission means for generating an optical signal according to the converted differential signal and transmitting the optical signal to the optical fiber; Slice the voltage signal for the optical signal transmitted through the optical fiber according to a predetermined level to restore the USB signal transmitted from the external device, and detect the fastening state of the USB optical expansion device and the optical fiber to detect the detected optical fiber Receiving means for transferring fastening state information to the bus control means; Bus control means for operating the USB bus in accordance with the optical fiber fastening state information transmitted from the receiving means; Signal direction control means for generating a control signal for separating the USB signal transmitted from the external device and the USB signal restored by the receiving means received through the optical fiber; And The switching means for switching in accordance with a control signal of the signal direction control means USB optical expansion device comprising a. The method of claim 1, The transmission means, A single-ended zero section is detected from two differential signals of the USB signal transmitted from the external device, thereby generating a SE0 section signal in which only the detected single-ended zero section is in a "HIGH" state. Means for detecting a single longitudinal section (SE0); A signal for selecting one differential signal from two differential signals of the USB signal transmitted from the external device and converting the selected differential signal into a differential signal having a single longitudinal zero (SE0) section in a "HIGH" state. Conversion means; Signal adding means for adding an output signal of said single-ended zero section detecting means and an output signal of said signal converting means; Driving means for applying an optical fiber fastening test signal to the all-optical converting means when the USB bus is in the " idle " state or for driving the all-optical converting means in accordance with the current signal added by the signal adding means; And All-optical conversion means for driving by the driving means to generate an optical signal and to transmit it through the optical fiber USB optical expansion device comprising a. The method of claim 2, The generation of the single-ended zero SE0 signal of the single-ended zero SE0 section detecting means includes: And applying a "NOR" logic operation to the two differential signals of the USB signal to generate a single-ended zero (SE0) section signal. The method of claim 2, In the differential signal of the signal conversion means, the process of converting the single-ended zero section (SE0) to "HIGH", After applying a "NOR" logic operation to the two differential signals of the USB signal to generate a single-ended zero-section (SE0) section signal, the OR logic operation is performed on the generated single-ended zero-section (SE0) section signal and the selected differential signal. USB optical expansion device, characterized in that performing. The method of claim 2, The optical fiber fastening inspection signal of the drive means, And a bias current signal of the all-optical conversion means and a special pulse train signal. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The receiving means, Photoelectric conversion means for converting the optical signal transmitted through the optical fiber into a current signal; Current-voltage conversion means for converting the converted current signal into a voltage signal; Signal recovery means for recovering a USB signal transmitted from the external device by slicing the voltage signal according to a predetermined level; And Signal detection means for detecting the fastening state of the USB optical expansion device and the optical fiber to transfer the detected optical fiber fastening state information to the bus control means USB optical expansion device comprising a. The method of claim 6, Amplifying means for amplifying the voltage signal converted by the current-voltage converting means USB optical expansion device further comprising. The method of claim 6, The signal recovery means, First comparing means for outputting a single longitudinal zero (SE0) section signal in which only a single longitudinal zero (SE0) section is in a "HIGH" state in accordance with a comparison with a predetermined first voltage level; A second signal for outputting a differential signal of one of the transmitted USB differential signals and the other differential signal having a single end zero (SE0) section of "HIGH" according to a comparison with a predetermined second voltage level; 2 comparison means; And The output signal of the first comparing means is subtracted from the other differential signal of which the single-ended zero section SE0 is “HIGH” among the output signals of the second comparing means. Signal subtraction means for making " LOW " USB optical expansion device comprising a. The method of claim 6, The optical fiber fastening state detection of the signal detection means, And when the optical fiber fastening test signal of the driving means is a bias current signal, detecting the fastening state of the optical fiber according to whether the size of the transmitted USB signal is greater than or equal to a predetermined level. The method of claim 6, The optical fiber fastening state detection of the signal detection means, And when the optical fiber fastening test signal of the driving means is a special pulse train signal, detecting the fastening state of the optical fiber according to whether the transmitted USB signal includes the special pulse train signal.