TWI594127B - Communication interface device - Google Patents

Description

Communication interface device

The present invention relates to a communication interface device, and more particularly to a communication interface device that can transmit data over a plurality of different communication protocols.

With the evolution of technology, a variety of electronic external devices are constantly being introduced to provide diverse needs. However, the external device is still often dissatisfied fast, especially the waiting for a large amount of data transmission is even more impatient, the biggest problem is the transmission bottleneck of the external interface. The commonly used Universal Serial Bus (USB) is already the interface for current electronic products, but there are still bottlenecks in speed transmission and power supply.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a communication interface device having a plurality of transmission connectors and capable of transmitting data with external devices using a plurality of different communication protocols to accelerate the efficiency of data transmission between devices.

A communication interface device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a processing module that performs a data transmission process by using a first communication protocol or a second communication protocol; and the first transmission connector is electrically connected to the processing module, and is pluggable The first transmission connector electrically connects the processing module to the external device when the first transmission connector is connected to the external device. Wherein, when the first transmission connector will process the mode When the group is electrically connected to the external device, the processing module transmits the first signal to the external device through the first transmission connector, and when the processing module receives the second signal from the external device, the processing module determines whether the second signal is Corresponding to the first signal, when the second signal corresponds to the first signal, the processing module performs a data transmission procedure with the external device by using the first communication protocol.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the invention, the first communication protocol is a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCI-E) communication protocol, and the second communication protocol is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) communication protocol. .

In summary, according to the communication interface device implemented by the present invention, the external device can be judged to be the data transmission program by using the first communication protocol or the second communication protocol, thereby further simplifying the computer system and increasing the portability and mode of the device. The invention is based on the wide versatility of the PCI-E and the USB communication protocol, thereby improving the universality and transmission efficiency of the external device.

The above description of the present invention and the following description of the embodiments of the present invention are intended to illustrate and explain the spirit and principles of the invention.

1‧‧‧Communication interface device

2‧‧‧External devices

10‧‧‧Processing module

11‧‧‧First transmission connector

12‧‧‧Second transmission connector

13‧‧‧ Third transmission connector

15‧‧‧First signal

25‧‧‧second signal

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a communication interface device implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a communication interface device implemented in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for determining the signal of the processing module 10 according to an embodiment of the invention.

3 is a structural diagram of a USB 2.0 type A standard connector implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing the pin correspondence of a USB 2.0 type A standard connector implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of a USB Type C connector implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing the pin correspondence of a USB Type C connector implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a block diagram of a USB Type C connector implemented in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the Detailed Description of the Detailed Description of the <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> <RTIgt; The objects and advantages associated with the present invention can be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The following examples are intended to describe the present invention in further detail, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1A, which is a schematic diagram of a communication interface device implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1A, the communication interface device 1 can include a processing module 10, a first transmission connector 11, and a second transmission. The connector 12 is connected to a third transmission connector 13. The first transmission connector 11 , the second transmission connector 12 , and the third transmission connector 13 are electrically connected to the processing module 10 . The post-processing module 10 is electrically connected to an external device 2 through the first transmission connector 11, the second transmission connector 12, or the third transmission connector 13. The functions and actuation modes of the processing module 10, the first transmission connector 11, the second transmission connector 12, and the third transmission connector 13 are separately described below.

The function of the processing module 10 is that after the processing module 10 is electrically connected to the external device 2, as shown in FIG. 1A, the processing module 10 transmits the first signal to the external device 2 through the first transmission connector, and A second signal from the external device is received. The processing module 10 performs signal determination, and performs a data transmission procedure on the external device 2 from the result of the determination.

For the process of signal determination by the processing module 10, please refer to FIG. 2, which is a flowchart for determining the signal of the processing module 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in step 201, the processing module 10 first transmits a first signal 15 to the external device 2 through the channel of the first transmission connector 11, and receives a second signal 25 from the external device 2. As shown in step 203, after the processing module 10 receives the second signal 25 transmitted by the external device 2, the processing module 10 determines whether the second signal 25 corresponds to the first signal 15. As shown in step 205, when the second signal 25 corresponds to the first signal 15, the processing module 10 performs the data transmission process with the external device 2 in the first communication protocol; as shown in step 207, when the second signal 25 is not Corresponding to the first signal 15, the processing module 10 performs a data transmission procedure with the external device 2 in the second communication protocol.

For example, the first signal 15 and the second signal 25 described above may be signals formed by a single or multiple bits of the binary. For example, the processing module 10 first transmits a "01" signal to the external device 2. If the external device transmits a "01" signal, the first signal corresponds to the second signal, and the processing module 10 communicates with the external protocol by using the first protocol. The device 2 performs the data transmission process; if the external device transmits a "00", "10", or "11" signal, and does not return any signal, the processing module 10 determines that the first signal and the second signal are not in phase. Correspondingly, the data transmission procedure is performed with the external device 2 in the second communication protocol.

In an embodiment of the invention, the external device 2 may be an internal module of the electronic product, and is not limited to the external module. For example, the relationship between the communication interface device 1 and the external device 2 may be the following two cases: In the first case, the external device 2 may be an actual external device, and the data transmission is performed through the transmission connector and the communication interface device 1. program. In the second case, the communication interface device 1 may be an internal module of a certain device, and the external device 2 may be another internal module of the device, and the data transmission program is performed through a common communication protocol. Relationship Between Communication Interface Device 1 and External Device 2 The present invention is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first communication protocol may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCI-E) communication protocol, and the second communication protocol may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) communication. agreement. Because the PCI-E interface has faster transmission efficiency and parallel transmission of multiple data channels than the commonly used USB interface. According to the standard of 4.0, each bus can achieve a transmission efficiency of 1969MB/s, and PCI-E The surface can support hot plugging and heat exchange characteristics as well as extensive versatility, further simplifying the computer system, increasing the portability and modularization of the device, and gradually becoming the standard interface for various devices, so the present invention utilizes PCI-E is widely versatile and is equipped with a USB protocol to improve the versatility and transmission efficiency of external devices. In accordance with the spirit of the present invention, the external device 2 can be a solid state hard disk, a sound effect processing device, an image display card, a bitcoin mining machine, or other related electronic device.

As the mobile platform devices flourish and the functionality of each of the devices increases, the data rate between peripheral devices has experienced an exponential increase. In this regard, the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) Alliance recently proposed the M-PHY physical layer standard, which defines a data rate of 10 Kbps to 5.8 Gbps per lane. The M-PHY standard is optimized for mobile applications such as cameras, displays for mobile terminals, smart phones, and the like. Therefore, the M-PHY standard defines standard signal mappings for communication interfaces on PCI-E and USB for data transmission. The transmission protocol of the processing module 10 and the external device 2 of the present invention is established on the M-PHY standard, so that the communication interface device 1 can perform data transmission procedures with the external device 2 through the first transmission connector 11. Further, when the foregoing second signal 25 corresponds to the first signal 15, the processing module 10 identifies that the other party is an external device 2 that can communicate via the PCI-E protocol, and then uses the PCI-E protocol. The external device 2 performs the data transmission program.

However, considering that the external device 2 does not necessarily have the transmission capability of the PCI-E transmission protocol, the communication interface device still retains the transmission protocol of the conventional USB. Further, when the second signal 25 does not correspond to the first signal 15, the processing module 10, the other party is identified as an external device 2 that cannot communicate with the PCI-E communication protocol, and therefore the data transmission program is performed with the external device 2 by the USB communication protocol.

The first transmission connector 11, the second transmission connector 12, and the third transmission connector 13 have a function of electrically connecting the processing module 10 to an external device for data transmission. According to the spirit of the present invention, the first transmission connector, the second transmission connector, and the third transmission connector may be Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors or other standard specifications with high-speed signal transmission capability or Non-standard size connector. The first transmission connector 11, the second transmission connector 12, and the third transmission connector 13 may also be stacked in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction into a single-body stacked transmission connector, and have multiple channels with high-speed signal transmission capability. Connector. In an embodiment of the present invention, please refer to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of a USB Type C connector implemented according to another embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 7, two USB type C connectors are stacked in a horizontal direction to form a single-body transmission connector, so that the user can complete the insertion and removal of the transmission connector at one time, which greatly reduces the time required for insertion and removal. Stacking in the horizontal direction will not cause an increase in the thickness of the transmission connector, which will help the hand-held electronic products maintain the demand for thinness and shortness.

As the transmission technology continues to advance, the universal serial bus has also been updated with a newer version due to technological advancement, from USB 1.0 introduced in 1996, USB 2.0 introduced in 2000, to USB 3.0, etc. It is constantly improving in speed and compatibility. However, due to differences in USB versions, the pin configuration and transmission channel will be different. For example, please return to Figure 1A, which is in accordance with the present invention. The communication interface device implemented in one embodiment is a schematic diagram of a USB2.0 type A connector. The standard of each transmission connector is USB2.0, and devices communicate and transmit data through D+/D-. However, if each of the transmission connectors is in compliance with the updated USB type C standard, please refer to FIG. 1B, which is a schematic diagram of a communication interface device implemented by another embodiment of the present invention, taking a USB type C connector as an example. Its pin configuration and transmission channel are more complex, including the first and second Super Speed transmitter differential pairs (SSTX, SSRX), D+/D-, and configuration channels. The implementation of the present invention will be described in detail below with respect to the USB 2.0 type A and USB type C standards.

If the transmission connector uses the standard of USB 2.0 type A, please refer to FIG. 3, which is a structural diagram of a USB 2.0 type A standard connector implemented according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the USB 2.0 standard, the assignment and corresponding functions of the pins of the USB connector are defined in detail in the manual. Please refer to Table 1 and FIG. 4, and FIG. 4 is a diagram of pin correspondence of a USB 2.0 standard connector implemented according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pin number 1 is VBUS, and its function is power supply. Pin numbers 2 and 3 are the data negative D- and the data positive D+ transmission line, respectively, and their functions are for data transmission. Pin No. 4 is GND and its function is power ground. After the foregoing processing module 10 is electrically connected to the external device 2 through the transmission connector, the USB connector is initially detected to be inserted, and then a first signal 15 is transmitted to the external device 2 through D+ and D-, and Receiving a second signal 25 from the external device 2, the processing module 10 further determines whether the external device 2 supports the PCI-E transmission protocol by determining whether the first signal 15 corresponds to the second signal 25.

If the transmission connector uses a serial type bus type C (USB Type C) connector standard, please refer to FIG. 5, which is a structural diagram of a USB Type-C connector implemented in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In the newly introduced USB type C standard, the assignment and corresponding functions of the pins of the Type C connector are defined in detail in the manual. Please refer to Table 2 and FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram of pin correspondence of a USB Type-C connector implemented according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pin numbers A5 and B5 are configuration channels, and their function is to detect the insertion of the USB connector, establish the role of the USB host and the USB device, and selectively provide extended power. . Therefore, after the foregoing processing module 10 is electrically connected to the external device 2 through the transmission connector, the insertion of the USB connector is first detected through the configuration pin, and then a first signal 15 is transmitted to the external device 2, And receiving a second signal 25 from the external device 2, and determining whether the external device 2 supports the PCI-E transmission protocol by determining whether the first signal 15 and the second signal 25 correspond.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first transmission connector 11, the second transmission connector 12, and the third transmission connector 13 can be further connected to the external device 2 through D+, D-, or It is the configuration pin to set its primary and secondary transmission channels. For example, when only one transmission connector is electrically connected to the external device 2, there is no doubt that the processing module 10 can assign the transmission connector to the number 001 and set it as the main transmission channel. When the two transmission connectors are electrically connected to the external device 2, the processing module 10 can give a number 001 to a certain transmitter electrically connected to the external device 2, and set it as the main transmission channel, and the other transmitter gives the number. 002 and set as the secondary transmission channel. By analogy, when the three-transmission connector is electrically connected to the external device 2, a certain transmission connector of the electrical connection is given the number 001 and is set as the main transmission channel, and the other transmitters are given the numbers 002 and 003, and Set as the secondary transmission channel.

The main transmission channel functions to allow the processing module 10 and external devices 2 Transmitting data and establishing a communication protocol, so that the processing module 10 can allocate a primary transmission channel and a secondary transmission channel for parallel transmission. For example, if the external device is an external PCI-E solid state drive, the communication interface device is a portable computer, and when the solid state hard disk has only one USB transmitter connected to the portable computer, the USB transmission is performed. If the three transmission connectors are simultaneously connected to the portable computer, the processing module 10 sets the master-slave order of the three transmission connectors, and simultaneously performs file transmission according to the defined communication protocol. In this way, the speed and bandwidth of the overall data transmission can be greatly accelerated.

In more detail, according to an embodiment of the invention, two differential channels are included in the USB type C connector, wherein the main transmission channel may be a differential channel occupied by the PCI-E when the data transmission channel is allocated. USB occupies a differential channel. Or both differential channels are occupied by PCI-E, and USB uses a USB 2.0 differential channel. In the physical data transmission, the embodiment can use the M-PHY or the PCI-E PHY or the USB PHY to perform physical layer data transmission, and the physical layer data transmission selection is based on the power consumption condition and the transmission distance. When the transmission wire distance is not the focus but the power saving, the M-PHY is selected to save the battery life of the portable device, and vice versa.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the primary transmission channel may be a differential channel high-tech configuration (eSATA) connector provided to the PCI-E or USB transmit/receive (TX/RX) differential channel for data transmission.

For example, the foregoing processing module 10 is electrically connected to the external device 2, and then transmits the first signal 15 to the external device 2 through the first transmission connector, and is connected. A second signal 25 is received from the external device. The first signal 15 and the second signal 25 may be signals formed by a plurality of binary bits, such as "00", "01", "10", "11", etc. divided by the first signal and the second signal. The signal can be used as the communication language between the processing module 10 and the external device 2, and the transmission connectors can be further numbered. For example, when a plurality of transmission connectors are electrically connected to the external device 2, the processing module 10 can number the signal of the main transmission channel to "001", and the transmission connector of the secondary transmission channel is sequentially numbered "010", 011", "100", etc. In this way, if the transmission connector uses the USB 2.0 standard, the processing module 10 can set its master-slave order through its D+ and D-; if the transmission connector uses the USB Type-C standard, the processing module 10 The master-slave sequence can be set via its configuration pins. And according to the defined communication protocol, file transfer at the same time. In this way, the speed and bandwidth of the overall data transmission can be greatly accelerated.

In an embodiment of the present invention, for the power supply part, if the USB power supply is based on the universal serial power transmission (USB Power Delivery) standard, it can supply 5V/12V/20V, up to 5A, and thus the power supply part. It will not be affected by the transmission of signals and conforms to the specifications of the universal serial bus power transmission standard. If the eSATAp connector's power supply is based on the Fast Sequence High Power Configuration (Power over eSATA, eSATAp) standard, the power supply can be from 5V or 12V, up to 5A, and can supply enough power.

In addition, in another embodiment of the present invention, the communication interface device of the present invention may also have different standard transmission connectors. For example, the first transmission connector may be a USB Type C-compliant transmission connector, and the second Transmission connector Can be an OccuLink connector that complies with the PCI-E standard, and the third transmission connector can Is a transmission connector that conforms to other standards, etc., as long as these transmission connectors can The communication protocol can be communicated and transmitted, and the invention does not limit the transmission. The type of connector.

Furthermore, in another embodiment of the present invention, the first and second communication protocols may be a transmission communication protocol of a system bus (Bus) in addition to the PCI-E protocol and the USB communication protocol, and the present invention does not. This limits the type of communication protocol.

In summary, according to the communication interface device implemented by the present invention, it can be determined that the external device performs the data transmission process by using the first communication protocol or the second communication protocol. The computer system is further simplified, and the portability and modularization of the device are increased. Therefore, the present invention utilizes the wide versatility of the PCI-E and the USB communication protocol, thereby improving the universality and transmission efficiency of the external device.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above in the foregoing embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. It is within the scope of the invention to be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Please refer to the attached patent application for the scope of protection defined by the present invention.

1‧‧‧Communication interface device

2‧‧‧External devices

10‧‧‧Processing module

11‧‧‧First transmission connector

12‧‧‧Second transmission connector

13‧‧‧ Third transmission connector

15‧‧‧First signal

25‧‧‧second signal

Claims (9)

A communication interface device includes: a processing module, a data transmission program is performed by a first communication protocol or a second communication protocol; a first transmission connector is electrically connected to the processing module, and is pluggable Connected to an external device, when the first transmission connector is connected to the external device, the first transmission connector electrically connects the processing module to the external device; a second transmission connector is electrically connected to the The processing module is detachably connected to the external device, and when the second transmission connector is connected to the external device, the second transmission connector electrically connects the processing module to the external device; The third transmission connector is electrically connected to the processing module, and is detachably connected to the external device. When the third transmission connector is connected to the external device, the third transmission connector is configured to process the module. Electrically connecting to the external device; wherein, when the first transmission connector electrically connects the processing module to the external device, the processing module transmits a first signal to the external through the first transmission connector And when the processing module receives a second signal from the external device, the processing module determines whether the second signal corresponds to the first signal, and when the second signal corresponds to the first signal The processing module transmits a setting configuration to the external device through a configuration channel pin or a first differential pair pin, and sets the first transmission connector as a main transmission channel, and the second transmission connector Set to the first time to transmit the channel, the first The third transmission connector is configured as a second secondary transmission channel, and the first communication connector simultaneously uses the first transmission connector, the second transmission connector and the third transmission connector to perform a data transmission with the external device program. The communication interface device of claim 1, wherein when the second signal does not correspond to the first signal, the processing module uses the first transmission connector to perform the data with the external device according to the second communication protocol. Transfer the program. The communication interface device of claim 1, wherein the processing module uses the first transmission connector with the second communication protocol when the processing module does not receive the second signal within a first time interval The data transmission program is performed with the external device. The communication interface device of claim 1, wherein the first transmission connector is a Universal Serial Bus (USB type A) connector or other high-speed signal transmission capability connector having multiple differential channels. When the first transmission connector electrically connects the processing module to the external device, the processing module transmits the first signal to the external device through a first differential pair pin of the first transmission connector, and The processing module receives the second signal from the external device through the first differential pair pin of the first transmission connector. The communication interface device according to claim 4, wherein the first transmission connector is configured according to a serial type bus type C (USB Type C) connector or other high speed signal transmission capability connector having a plurality of differential channels, including a configuration channel pin (CC pin), when the first transmission connector electrically connects the processing module to the external device, the processing module transmits the The configuration channel pin of the first transmission connector transmits the first signal to the external device, and the processing module receives the second signal from the external device through the configuration channel pin of the first transmission connector. The communication interface device of claim 1, wherein the first communication protocol is any combination of a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCI-E) communication protocol or other communication protocol, and the second communication protocol is universal. Serial Bus (USB) communication protocol. The communication interface device of claim 1, further comprising a horizontal or vertical stacked connector of the plurality of transmission connectors as a single transmission connector for electrically connecting the processing module to the external device. The communication interface device of claim 7, wherein the processing module transmits a setting configuration to the external device through a configuration channel pin or a first differential pair pin, and the first transmission connector is set to one The primary transmission channel is configured as a first secondary transmission channel, and the third transmission connector is configured as a second secondary transmission channel. The communication interface device according to claim 6 uses the M-PHY standard or the PCI-E/USB PHY standard for physical layer data transmission, and the physical layer data transmission selection is based on power consumption conditions and transmission distance considerations.