TW201527983A - Communication system, host device and periphery device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication system including a host device and a periphery device is provided. The periphery device could be connected to the host device with a transmission interface, when the periphery device is connected to the host device, the periphery device and the host device switch to connect an embedded controller of the periphery device with an embedded controller of the host device through the transmission interface. When the embedded controller of the periphery device is connected with the embedded controller of the host device through the transmission interface, the embedded controller of the periphery device and the embedded controller of the host device execute a signal exchanging process. When the signal exchanging process completes, the embedded controller of the host device controls a power supply unit of the host device to supply power to the periphery device, and the periphery device and the host device switch to connect a processing unit of the periphery device with a processing unit of the host device through the transmission interface.

Description

Communication system and its host device and peripheral device

The invention relates to a communication system.

With the rapid development of technology, mobile electronic devices are also widely filled with people's lives. In general, when powering a charging mobile electronic device or other peripheral devices, a transmission interface such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) is required to be connected to a transformer connected to a commercial power source or another electronic device. And receiving power transmitted by the transformer or another electronic device through the transmission interface. However, a transmission interface such as USB often only provides a fixed power source (eg, 5 volts) to the connected mobile electronic device or peripheral device. In addition, it is also possible to identify the power required by the mobile electronic device/peripheral device by using a pull-up/pull-down resistor coupled between the data transmission path and the ground plane when connected. However, in such a case, the electronic device for supplying power can only recognize the highest voltage required by the mobile electronic device through the above-mentioned pull-up/pull-down resistor, but cannot provide current or more complete information such as power. To the electronic device. When mobile electronic devices or other When the power or maximum voltage required by the peripheral device is greater than the above 5 volts, or according to the preset voltage value of the pull-up/pull-down resistor, the mobile electronic device or other peripheral devices may operate due to the supplied power being too low. Not normal or slow charging. Therefore, how to fully communicate the power supply information in the existing architecture has become an urgent problem for those with ordinary knowledge in the field.

The present invention provides a communication system in which a host device and peripheral devices can exchange messages in advance to obtain power supply information.

The communication system of the present invention includes: a host device and a peripheral device. The host device includes a processing unit, an embedded controller, and a power supply unit. The peripheral device is connected to the host device through a transmission interface, including a processing unit and an embedded controller. Wherein, when the peripheral device is connected to the host device, the peripheral device and the host device switch, so that the embedded controller of the peripheral device and the embedded controller of the host device are connected through the transmission interface. When the embedded controller of the peripheral device is connected to the embedded controller of the host device through the transmission interface, the embedded controller of the peripheral device performs a handshake process with the embedded controller of the host device. After the handshake process is completed, the embedded controller of the host device controls the power supply unit to supply power to the peripheral device according to the result of the handshake process, and the peripheral device and the host device switch to make the processing unit of the peripheral device and the processing unit of the host device pass through the transmission interface. connection.

The host device of the present invention comprises: a processing unit, an embedded controller, A multiplexer and a power unit. The multiplexer is connected to the processing unit as well as the embedded controller. The power unit is connected to the embedded controller. Wherein, when the multiplexer is connected to an external peripheral device through a transmission interface, the embedded controller switches the multiplexer to turn on the path between the embedded controller and the peripheral device, and the embedded controller and the peripheral device execute A handshake program. When the handshaking process is completed, the embedded controller controls the power unit to supply power to the peripheral device based on the result of the handshake process, and the embedded controller switches the multiplexer to connect the processing unit to the host device through the transmission interface.

The peripheral device of the present invention includes a processing unit, an embedded controller, and a multiplexer. The multiplexer is connected to the processing unit as well as the embedded controller. Wherein, when the multiplexer is connected to an external host device through a transmission interface, the embedded controller switches the multiplexer to turn on the path between the embedded controller and the host device. When the embedded controller is connected to the host device, the embedded controller and the host device perform a handshake process. When the handshaking process is completed, the peripheral device receives power from the host device, and the embedded controller switches the multiplexer to connect the processing unit to the host device through the transport interface.

Based on the above, the communication system of the present invention, the host device and the peripheral device thereof can be switched, so that the embedded controllers of both parties can switch the connection path back to the processing units of both parties after the communication information is communicated. data.

The above described features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

10, 30‧‧‧Communication system

100, 300‧‧‧ host device

200, 400‧‧‧ peripheral devices

110, 210, 310, 410‧‧‧ processing units

120, 220, 320, 420‧‧‧ embedded controller

130, 330‧‧‧Power unit

140, 240, 340, 440‧‧‧ multiplexers

S201~S203‧‧‧Steps

PWR‧‧‧Power Path

D+, D-‧‧‧ data path

GND‧‧‧ Grounding path

D+31, D+32, D-31, D-32, D+41, D-41, D+42, D-42, Data, Clock‧‧‧ contacts

1 is a block diagram of a communication system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

2 is a timing diagram of a handshake process in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system of a communication system according to an embodiment of the invention.

1 is a block diagram of a communication system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 , the communication system 10 includes a host device 100 and a peripheral device 200. The host device 100 includes a processing unit 110, an embedded controller 120, a power supply unit 130, and a multiplexer 140. The processing unit 110 and the embedded controller 120 are connected to the transmission interface through the multiplexer 140, and the power supply unit 130 is connected to the embedded controller 120 and the transmission interface. The peripheral device 200 is connected to the host device 100 through a transmission interface, and includes a processing unit 210, an embedded controller 220, and a multiplexer 240. The processing unit 210 and the embedded controller 220 are connected to the transmission interface through the multiplexer 240.

When the peripheral device 200 is connected to the host device 100, the embedded controller 220 of the peripheral device 200 and the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 respectively switch the multiplexers 140 and 240 to enable the embedded controller 220 and the host device of the peripheral device 200. The embedded controller 120 of the device 100 is connected through a transport interface. When the embedded controller 220 of the peripheral device 200 is connected to the embedded controller 220 of the host device 100 through the transmission interface, the embedded controller 220 of the peripheral device 200 and the host device 100 The embedded controller 120 performs a handshake process. After the handshake process is completed, the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 controls the power supply unit 130 to supply power to the peripheral device 200 according to the result of the handshake process, and the peripheral device 200 and the host device 100 switch to cause the processing unit 210 of the peripheral device 200 to The processing unit 110 of the host device 100 is connected through a transmission interface.

The signal exchange program executed by the embedded controller 220 of the peripheral device 200 and the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 is used to enable the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 to know the power requirements of the peripheral device 200. And executed. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, before the peripheral device 200 and the host device 100 are connected through the transmission interface to perform a handshake process, the power supply unit 130 of the host device 100 first supplies a fixed power and a fixed voltage to the power device. The peripheral device 200 ensures that the peripheral device 200 does not fail to complete the handshake process due to insufficient power.

2 is a timing diagram of a handshake process in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the embedded controller 220 of the peripheral device 200 transmits a power supply request to the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 (step S201). After receiving the power request described above, the embedded controller 120 of the host device 120 analyzes the power supply request and obtains the voltage value and the power value included in the power supply request (step S202). At this time, the embedded controller 110 of the host device 100 determines whether the voltage value and the power value in the power request are smaller than the power supply upper limit of the power supply unit 130 of the host device 100, when the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 determines the power request. The voltage value and the power value are less than (or less than or equal to) the power supply upper limit of the power supply unit 130, The embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 sets the result of the handshake program as the voltage value and the power value in the power supply request, and returns a confirmation message to the embedded controller 220 of the peripheral device 200 (step S203). In this way, the power supply unit 130 of the host device 130 can supply power to the peripheral device 200 according to the voltage value and the power value in the power supply requirement.

In this embodiment, if the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 determines that the voltage value and the power value are greater than the power supply upper limit of the power supply unit, the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 sets the handshake program. The result is the upper power supply limit of the power supply unit 130, and the confirmation message including the upper power supply limit is returned to the embedded controller 220 of the peripheral device 200. In this way, when the embedded controller 220 of the peripheral device 200 receives the confirmation message and determines that the voltage value and the power value in the confirmation message are different from the power requirement, the embedded controller 220 can know the host device at this time. 100 will supply power to peripheral device 200 only with the voltage value and power value in the confirmation message.

In another embodiment of the present invention, when the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 determines that the voltage value and the power value are greater than the power supply upper limit of the power supply unit, the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 transmits a reject message in step S203. The embedded controller 220 to the peripheral device 200. When the embedded controller 220 of the peripheral device 200 knows that the power supply unit 130 of the host device 220 cannot supply the voltage value and the power value in the power supply request. The embedded controller 220 of the peripheral device 200 can transmit the power request to the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 again (or more) until receiving the return from the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100. The confirmation message confirms that the above handshake procedure has been completed. In other embodiments, the handshake process may also include other messaging, and the invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system of a communication system according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the coupling relationship of each component in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is the same as that of FIG. 1. In other words, the communication system 30 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 can be considered as a practical implementation of the communication system 10 in the embodiment of FIG. In the present embodiment, the host device 300 is a personal computer, and in the present embodiment, the peripheral device 400 is a speaker connected through a transmission interface. In the host device 300, the processing unit 310 can be a Platform Controller Hub (PCH) in a personal computer, and the power unit 330 can be a DC/DC controller in a personal computer. . On the other hand, the processing unit 410 in the peripheral device 400 is an audio decoder in the speaker.

In this embodiment, the transmission interface connecting the host device 300 and the peripheral device 400 is a USB interface, and includes a power path PWR, data paths D+, D-, and a ground path GND. The power supply unit 130 of the host device 300 can be powered to the peripheral device 400 through the power path PWR. The ground path GND is connected to the system ground plane of the host device 300 and the peripheral device 400. The data paths D+ and D- are connected to the multiplexer 340 of the host device 300 and the multiplexer 440 of the peripheral device 400. When the peripheral device 400 is connected to the host device 300, the embedded controller 420 of the peripheral device 400 turns the switch multiplexer 440 to turn on the junction Clock and the contact D+41 on the multiplexer 440, and the contact point Data and the contact point D. -41. At the same time, the embedded controller of the host device 300 320 switches the multiplexer 340 to turn on the junction Clock and the contact D+31 on the multiplexer 440, and the contact data and the contact D-31, so that the embedded controller 220 of the peripheral device 200 and the host device 100 are embedded. The controller 120 is connected via the data path D+, D- of the transmission interface.

In this embodiment, the information exchange between the embedded controller 220 of the peripheral device 200 and the embedded controller 120 of the host device 100 (for example, the power request, the confirmation message, or the rejection message described above) can be applied to the system management bus. The data format and the transfer form defined in the bus standard such as (System Management Bus, SMBus) are completed, but the present invention is not limited to the above.

On the other hand, when the handshake process is completed, the embedded controller 420 of the peripheral device 400 turns the switch multiplexer 440 to turn on the contact D+42 and the contact D+41 on the multiplexer 440, and the contact D-42. With contact D-41. At the same time, the embedded controller 320 of the host device 300 turns the switch multiplexer 340 to turn on the contact D+32 and the contact D+31 on the multiplexer 440, and the contact D-32 and the contact D-31, so that the periphery The processing unit 410 of the device 200 is connected to the processing unit 310 of the host device 100 through the data paths D+, D- of the transmission interface. For the detailed implementation, reference may be made to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and details are not described herein.

In the case where the personal device 300 is a personal computer and the peripheral device 400 is an external USB speaker, in general, the external USB speaker can only obtain 5 volts*0.5 amps, that is, 2.5 watts of power from the USB transmission interface of the personal computer. Simply driving the speaker with such power may greatly limit the volume of the speaker at the time of output. If you want to increase the volume of the speaker, the user may Additional power sources (such as transformers connected to commercial power supplies) must be connected to the speakers to increase the volume, but this may cause inconvenience to the user. When the above-discussed technical contents of the present invention are applied, the speaker can be extremely simple, and sufficient power (ie, a sufficiently high voltage and a sufficiently large current) can be obtained from the personal computer without setting too many additional components. So that the volume can no longer be limited by the amount of power supplied. In addition, the audio data to be played is also directly received from the USB transmission interface. The user only needs to connect a line connected to the personal computer to the speaker (that is, the cable through the USB interface), which also improves the user's use. Convenience.

In summary, the present invention provides a communication system, a host device thereof and peripheral devices thereof. When the host device and its peripheral devices transmit data, the data path is connected to the embedded controller to exchange peripheral devices. The required power requirements enable the host device to properly provide the most appropriate power supply for the peripheral devices, which can reduce the limitations of the peripheral devices.

10‧‧‧Communication system

100‧‧‧Host device

200‧‧‧ peripheral devices

110, 210‧‧ ‧ processing unit

120, 220‧‧‧ embedded controller

130‧‧‧Power unit

140, 240‧‧‧ multiplexers

Claims (9)

A communication system includes: a host device, including a processing unit, an embedded controller, and a power supply unit; a peripheral device connected to the host device through a transmission interface, including a processing unit and an embedded controller, Wherein, when the peripheral device is connected to the host device, the peripheral device and the host device switch such that the embedded controller of the peripheral device is connected to the embedded controller of the host device through the transmission interface; When the embedded controller of the device is connected to the embedded controller of the host device through the transmission interface, the embedded controller of the peripheral device performs a handshake process with the embedded controller of the host device; when the signal is After the switching process is completed, the embedded controller of the host device controls the power supply unit to supply power to the peripheral device according to the result of the handshake program, and the peripheral device and the host device switch the processing unit of the peripheral device with the The processing unit of the host device is connected through the transmission interface. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the handshake program comprises: the embedded controller of the peripheral device transmitting a power request to the embedded controller of the host device, wherein the power request includes a voltage a value and a power value; the embedded controller of the host device determines the voltage value in the power requirement and whether the power value is less than an upper power limit of the power unit of the host device, When the embedded controller of the host device determines the voltage value and the power value is less than the power supply upper limit of the power supply unit, the embedded controller of the host device sets the result of the handshake program as the power request The voltage value and the power value are returned, and a confirmation message is sent back to the embedded controller of the peripheral device. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the handshake program further comprises: when the embedded controller of the host device determines the voltage value and the power value is greater than the power supply limit of the power unit, the host The embedded controller of the device sets the result of the handshake process as the power supply upper limit of the power supply unit, and returns the confirmation message including the power supply upper limit to the embedded controller of the peripheral device. The communication system of claim 1, wherein: the transmission interface is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) transmission interface, and the host device transmits the D+ signal path and the D-signal path through the transmission interface. The peripheral device. A host device includes: a processing unit; an embedded controller; a multiplexer connected to the processing unit and the embedded controller; and a power supply unit connected to the embedded controller, wherein When the multiplexer is connected to an external peripheral device through a transmission interface, the embedded controller switches the multiplexer to turn on a path between the embedded controller and the peripheral device, and the embedded controller and the Peripheral device performs a letter a switching program; when the handshaking process is completed, the embedded controller controls the power supply unit to supply power to the peripheral device according to the result of the handshake program, and the embedded controller switches the multiplexer to cause the processing unit to The host device is connected through the transmission interface. The host device of claim 5, wherein the signal exchange program comprises: receiving a power requirement from the peripheral device, wherein the power requirement includes a voltage value and a power value; the embedded controller determines the power requirement Whether the voltage value and the power value are less than a power supply upper limit of the power supply unit of the host device, when the voltage value is determined and the power value is less than the power supply upper limit of the power supply unit, the embedded controller sets the The result of the handshake process is the voltage value in the power request and the power value; and a confirmation message is sent back to the peripheral device. The host device of claim 6, wherein the handshake program further comprises: when the embedded controller of the host device determines the voltage value and the power value is greater than the power supply limit of the power unit, the host The embedded controller of the device sets the result of the handshake process as the power supply upper limit of the power supply unit, and returns the confirmation message including the power supply upper limit to the embedded controller of the peripheral device. A peripheral device comprising: a processing unit; an embedded controller; a multiplexer connected to the processing unit and the embedded controller, wherein the embedded controller is connected to an external host device through a transmission interface Switching the multiplexer to turn on a path between the embedded controller and the host device; when the embedded controller is connected to the host device, the embedded controller performs a handshake process with the host device; After the handshake process is completed, the peripheral device receives power from the host device, and the embedded controller switches the multiplexer to connect the processing unit to the host device through the transmission interface. The peripheral device of claim 8, wherein the handshake process comprises: the embedded controller transmitting a power request to the host device, wherein the power requirement includes a voltage value and a power value; and from the host The device receives a confirmation message, wherein the confirmation message corresponds to the result of the exchange procedure.