TWI737173B - Docking station and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a docking station and a control method thereof. The docking station includes a first USB interface terminal, a second USB interface terminal, and a video signal output terminal. The docking station includes a microcontroller, a first signal multiplexer, a second signal multiplexer, a video signal processor, and a video signal converter. The microcontroller determines whether the first USB interface terminal or the second USB interface terminal is connected to an electronic device. When the first USB interface terminal is connected to the electronic device, the microcontroller sets the first USB interface terminal as an uplink port. The uplink port receives a first signal from the electronic device, and then the first signal selects and outputs a video signal. The video signal processor performs signal processing on the video signal. The video signal converter converts the video signal into a video output signal and outputs it to the video signal output terminal for playback.

Description

Expansion base and control method thereof

The invention relates to a docking station, in particular to a docking station capable of automatically setting an uplink port and a control method thereof.

Existing docking stations include multiple USB interface ports. Usually, when the existing docking station leaves the factory, one of the USB interface ports is preset as an upstream port, and the other USB interface ends are set as a downstream port; among them, the upstream port is used for For active electronic devices (for example: computers) to connect, and the downstream port is for passive electronic devices (for example: pen drives).

However, the existing docking station allows users to identify which USB interface is the upstream port and the downstream port by printing labels on the shell; When the device is connected to the docking station, it is very inconvenient to use. Moreover, when the user does not pay attention to the label and connects the active electronic device to the USB interface of the corresponding downstream port, the docking station will not work and the user will Misunderstanding that the docking station is damaged.

Therefore, the inventor believes that the above-mentioned shortcomings can be improved, and with great concentration of research and the application of scientific principles, we finally propose an invention with reasonable design and effective improvement of the above-mentioned shortcomings.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a docking station and a control method thereof for the shortcomings of the prior art, which can effectively improve the possible defects of the existing docking station.

The embodiment of the invention discloses a docking station, which has a first USB interface terminal, a second USB interface terminal, and a video signal output terminal. The docking station includes: a microcontroller connected to the first USB interface terminal and For the second USB interface terminal, the microcontroller can determine whether the first USB interface terminal or the second USB interface terminal is connected to a first electronic device through an operating program; when the first USB interface terminal When the first electronic device is connected, the operating program sets the first USB interface end as an upstream port, and the second USB interface end as a downstream port; a first signal multiplexer is connected to The microcontroller, the first signal multiplexer are connected to the first electronic device through the uplink port, and the uplink port can receive a first signal from the first electronic device, and then the first signal A signal selects and outputs a video signal; a second signal multiplexer is connected to the microcontroller, the second signal multiplexer is connected to a second electronic device through the downstream port, the second signal The multiplexer can receive a second signal of the second electronic device; a video signal processor is connected to the microcontroller and the first signal multiplexer, and the video signal processor receives and The video signal performs signal processing; and a video signal converter connected to the video signal processor, the video signal converter receives the video signal processed by the signal, and converts the video signal into a video output signal And output to the video signal output terminal for playback.

An embodiment of the present invention further discloses a method for controlling a docking station, which includes the following steps: detecting whether one of the multiple USB interface ends is connected to an electronic device; when detecting that one of the USB interface ends is connected to the electronic device, setting The USB interface terminal connected to the electronic device is an upstream port, and the other multiple USB interface terminals are respectively set as downstream ports; and the electronic device connected to the upstream port is allowed to transmit a video The signal is sent to a video signal processor, and the video signal processor can receive the video signal processed by the signal through a video signal converter and output it to a video signal output terminal for playback.

In summary, in the docking station and its control method disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of the USB interface terminals are detected by the microcontroller, and the USB interface terminal first connected to the electronic device is set as One upstream port, and the other multiple USB interface ports are respectively set as downstream ports. Accordingly, when using the docking station, the user does not need to identify which is the USB interface terminal corresponding to the upstream port, and can directly connect the electronic device to any of the USB interface terminals, and pass The microcontroller allows the USB interface terminal connected to the electronic device to be automatically set as the upstream port to output the video signal to the video signal output terminal for playback.

In order to further understand the features and technical content of the present invention, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings about the present invention. However, the provided drawings are only for reference and description, and are not used to limit the present invention.

The following is a specific embodiment to illustrate the implementation of the "docking station 100 and its control method" disclosed in the present invention. Those skilled in the art can understand the advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be based on different viewpoints and applications, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention. In addition, the drawings of the present invention are merely schematic illustrations, and are not drawn according to actual dimensions, and are stated in advance. The following embodiments will further describe the related technical content of the present invention in detail, but the disclosed content is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention.

It should be understood that although terms such as "first", "second", and "third" may be used herein to describe various elements or signals, these elements or signals should not be limited by these terms. These terms are mainly used to distinguish one element from another, or one signal from another signal. In addition, the term "or" used in this document may include any one or a combination of more of the associated listed items depending on the actual situation.

[The first embodiment of the docking station]

Referring to Figures 1 to 2, this embodiment provides a docking station 100. The docking station 100 includes a first USB interface terminal IN1, a second USB interface terminal IN2, and a video signal output terminal OUT. The invention is not limited to what is contained in this embodiment. For example, in other embodiments of the present invention not shown, the number of USB interface terminals of the docking station 100 can be adjusted according to the designer's requirements, for example, the number of USB interface terminals is five. It is worth noting that the connector specifications of the first USB interface terminal IN1 and the second USB interface terminal IN2 in this embodiment are USB Type-C, and the first USB interface terminal IN1 and the second USB interface The transmission specification of the interface IN2 is USB 3.1, but it is not limited to that contained in this embodiment.

At the same time, the docking station 100 includes a microcontroller 1 connected to the first USB interface terminal IN1 and the second USB interface terminal IN2, and a first signal multiplexer 2A connected to the microcontroller 1 , A second signal multiplexer 2B connected to the microcontroller 1, a video signal processor 3 connected to the microcontroller 1 and the first signal multiplexer 2A, connected to the video signal processing A video signal converter 4 of the device 3, a first power controller 5A connected between the first signal multiplexer 2A and the first USB interface terminal IN1, and a first power controller 5A connected to the second signal multiplexer A second power controller 5B between the worker 2B and the second USB interface terminal IN2. It should be noted that the signal multiplexer of the docking station 100 is designed to cooperate with the USB interface; that is, the designer can adjust the number of the signal multiplexer according to the number of the USB interface.

The microcontroller 1 is connected to the first USB interface terminal IN1 and the second USB interface terminal IN2, and the microcontroller 1 can pass through the first USB interface terminal IN1 and the second USB interface terminal IN2 Used to respectively connect a first electronic device D1 and a second electronic device D2. For the convenience of description, the first electronic device D1 and the second electronic device D2 are respectively active devices (for example, a computer, a mobile phone, or a tablet, etc.) in this embodiment, and the first electronic device D1 is The user mainly operates the active device (image transmission), but the present invention is not limited to what is described in this embodiment. For example, in other embodiments of the present invention not shown, the second electronic device D2 may be an active device, and the first electronic device D1 may be a passive device (such as a pen drive), that is to say The second electronic device D2 is an active device mainly operated by the user.

The microcontroller 1 can determine whether the first USB interface terminal IN1 or the second USB interface terminal IN2 is connected to the first electronic device D1 through an operating program. When the first USB interface terminal IN1 is connected to the first electronic device D1, the operation program sets the first USB interface terminal IN1 as an upstream port, and the second USB interface terminal IN2 is set as a downstream port port.

Specifically, the microcontroller 1 is preset with the operating program, and the operating program sequentially detects the first USB interface terminal IN1 and the second USB interface terminal IN2 to confirm which one has been connected to the The first electronic device D1 (at this time, the second electronic device D2 is not connected to the docking station 100). For example, when the first electronic device D1 is connected to the first USB interface terminal IN1, the operating program detects that the first USB interface terminal IN1 is connected to the first electronic device D1 , The operating program sets the first USB interface terminal IN1 as the upstream port, and the second USB interface terminal IN2 as the downstream port; at this time, the user can set the second electronic The device D2 is connected to the second USB interface terminal IN2; on the contrary, when the first electronic device D1 is connected to the second USB interface terminal IN2, the operating program first detects the first A USB interface terminal IN1 is not found to be connected to the first electronic device D1, the operation program then detects the second USB interface terminal IN2; when the operation program detects that the second USB interface terminal is connected to the first electronic device D1, For an electronic device D1, the operating program sets the second USB interface terminal IN2 as the upstream port, and the first USB interface terminal IN1 as the downstream port; at this time, the user can set The second electronic device D2 is connected to the first USB interface terminal IN1.

The first signal multiplexer 2A is connected to the microcontroller 1, the first signal multiplexer 2A is connected to the first electronic device D1 through the uplink port, and the uplink port can receive the first electronic device D1. A first signal of an electronic device D1 is selected by the first signal and a video signal is output. Specifically, the first signal multiplexer 2A corresponds to the uplink port, the first signal multiplexer 2A can receive the first signal transmitted by the first electronic device D1, and the first signal multiplexer 2A can receive the first signal transmitted by the first electronic device D1. A signal may include a first video signal, a first command signal, and a first data signal, etc. That is, the first signal can select whether to output the first video signal through the first command signal.

The second signal multiplexer 2B is connected to the microcontroller 1, the second signal multiplexer 2B is connected to the second electronic device D2 through the downstream port, and the second signal multiplexer 2B It can receive a second signal from the second electronic device D2. Specifically, the second signal multiplexer 2B corresponds to the downlink port, and the second signal multiplexer 2B can receive the second signal from the second electronic device D2, and the second signal It may include a second video signal, a second command signal, and a second data signal. That is, the second signal can select whether to output the second video signal through the second command signal.

The video signal processor 3 is connected to the microcontroller 1 and the first signal multiplexer 2A, and the video signal processor 3 receives and performs signal processing on the video signal. The video signal converter 4 is connected to the video signal processor 3. The video signal converter 4 receives the signal-processed video signal, converts the video signal into a video output signal, and outputs it to the video signal The video signal output terminal OUT plays.

Specifically, the video signal processor 3 receives the video signal transmitted to the first signal multiplexer 2A through the uplink port, and performs signal processing on the video signal; then, the video signal The signal converter 4 then converts the video signal into a video output signal and outputs it to the video signal output terminal OUT for playback, and a display device D3 connected to the video signal output terminal OUT is a display in this embodiment , But the present invention is not limited to what is contained in this embodiment.

Preferably, the first electronic device D1 and the second electronic device D2 each have an application program installed, and the application program can transmit a switching signal to the microcontroller 1 so that the microcontroller 1 controls the corresponding The first USB interface terminal IN1 or the second USB interface terminal IN2 of the upstream port is set as the downstream port, and the first USB interface terminal IN1 or the second USB corresponding to the downstream port The interface terminal IN2 is set as the upstream port.

Specifically, the application program can be actively installed by the microcontroller 1, or a user can actively install it on the first electronic device D1 and the second electronic device D2, and the user can use the application The program actively selects or switches the USB interface terminal corresponding to the upstream port. For example, when the user wants to replace the first electronic device D1 (that is, the electronic device that the user is transmitting images) connected to the first USB interface IN1 (the upstream port) with When connected to the second USB interface terminal IN2 and connected to the second electronic device D2, the user can transmit the switching signal through the application program to enable the microcontroller 1 to set the second USB interface terminal IN2 Is the upstream port, and the first USB interface terminal IN1 is the downstream port.

To put it another way, at a point in time, the microcontroller 1 controls the video signal converter 4 to process the first video signal of the first electronic device D1, and then the video signal converter 4 will The first video signal processed by the signal is converted into a video output signal and output to the video signal output terminal OUT, so that the screen image of the first electronic device D1 can be played on an external display device. At the next point in time, when the microcontroller 1 receives the switching signal transmitted by the user through the application, the microcontroller 1 will control the video signal converter 4 to process the first Two video signals, and then the video signal converter 4 converts the signal-processed second video signal into a video output signal and outputs it to the video signal output terminal OUT, so that the image displayed by the external display device is changed from The screen image of the first electronic device D1 is switched to the screen image of the second electronic device D2.

In addition, the docking station 100 further includes a manual control interface 6, such as a button or an operating interface provided on the docking station 100, the manual control interface 6 is connected to the microcontroller 1, and the manual control The interface 6 can transmit the switching signal to the microcontroller 1, so that the microcontroller 1 controls the first USB interface terminal IN1 or the second USB interface terminal IN2 corresponding to the upstream port to be set to The downstream port, and the first USB interface terminal IN1 or the second USB interface terminal IN2 corresponding to the downstream port is set as the upstream port. In other words, the switching signal can be switched not only through the application program, but also through the manual control interface 6 manually.

The first power controller 5A is connected between the first signal multiplexer 2A and the first USB interface terminal IN1, and the second power controller 5B is connected to the second signal multiplexer 2B And the second USB interface terminal IN2. The operating program can control the first power controller 5A or the second power controller 5B to provide a main power of the first electronic device D1 connected to the uplink port. The operating program can control the first power controller 5A or the second power controller 5B to provide a residual power of the second electronic device D2 connected to the downstream port, and the main power is the first power The maximum electric energy of the output power that an electronic device D1 can accept, and the remaining electric energy is the electric energy that the docking station 100 can provide after deducting the main electric energy.

In detail, the main power corresponds to the electronic device connected to the uplink port, and the remaining power corresponds to the electronic device connected to the downlink port. For example, when the first USB interface terminal IN1 is the upstream port and the second USB interface terminal IN2 is the downstream port, the first USB interface terminal IN1 connected to the first The main electrical energy that the electronic device D1 can obtain (that is, the maximum electrical energy that the first electronic device D1 can receive output power), and the second electronic device D2 connected to the second USB interface terminal IN2 can obtain Of the remaining power. In other words, the operating program controls the docking station 100 to provide the electronic equipment connected to the uplink port first to obtain power, and the electronic equipment connected to the downlink port takes second place.

[The second embodiment of the docking station]

As shown in FIG. 3, it is another embodiment of the docking station of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to the docking station of the above-mentioned embodiment. The main differences from the first embodiment of the aforementioned docking station are:

The docking station 100' further includes a hub 7, which is connected to the first USB interface terminal IN1 and the second USB interface terminal IN2; the first electronic device D1 directly passes through the application program The hub 7 accesses the second data signal of the second electronic device D2, but the invention is not limited to what is described in this embodiment. For example, the second electronic device D2 can also directly access the first data signal of the first electronic device D1 through the hub 7 through the application program. The technical details of file transmission between the first electronic device D1 and the second electronic device D2 through the hub 7 should be understood by those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the invention belongs, and will not be detailed here. Narrated.

[First embodiment of control method]

Refer to FIG. 4, which is an embodiment of the control method of the docking station of the present invention. The control method provided in this embodiment is applicable to the aforementioned docking station 100. Therefore, please refer to FIGS. 1 and 3 at the same time. This embodiment discloses a control method of a docking station. The control method includes a detection step S110, a setting step S120, a playback step S130, an installation step S140, and a switching step S150. It should be noted that any one of the above multiple steps can be omitted or replaced by a reasonable change according to the needs of the designer.

The detection step S110 is implemented: a microcontroller 1 detects whether one of the multiple USB interface terminals is connected to an electronic device through the operating program. Specifically, the operation program presets a detection sequence and a preset sequence, and sequentially detects whether a plurality of the USB interface terminals are connected to the electronic device according to the detection sequence.

Implement the setting step S120: when the operating program detects that one of the USB interface terminals is connected to the electronic device, the operating program sets the USB interface terminal connected to the electronic device as an upstream port, and The other multiple USB interface terminals are respectively set as downstream ports. Preferably, when the operating program detects a plurality of the USB interface ends according to the detection sequence, and detects that two of the USB interface ends are each connected as two electronic devices of the active device, the operating program According to the preset sequence, one of the USB interface terminals connected to the two electronic devices is set as the upstream port.

Implement the playback step S130: The operating program allows the electronic device connected to the uplink port to transmit a video signal to a video signal processor 3, which is received by a video signal converter 4 The video signal processed by the signal is output to a video signal output terminal OUT for playback. In other words, the electronic device connected to the upstream port can output its image to the display device D3 connected to the video signal output terminal OUT.

The installation step S140 is implemented: the microcontroller 1 installs an application program on the electronic device connected to the uplink port, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. For example, the user can also install the application program to the electronic device through the Internet or other methods; that is, the application program is not limited to one installation method.

Implement the switching step S150: the application program can instruct the microcontroller 1 to set the two USB interface terminals connected to the electronic device, so that the USB interface terminal that is the upstream port is set to the Downstream ports, and one of the USB interface ends of the downstream ports is set as the upstream port. In other words, the microcontroller 1 can set the uplink port and multiple downlink ports by itself through the application program.

[Second embodiment of control method]

As shown in FIG. 5, it is another embodiment of the control method of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to the control method of the above-mentioned embodiment. The main difference from the first embodiment of the above control method is that the control method of this embodiment does not have the installation step S140, and the switching step S150 is also different.

Specifically, the switching step S150' of this embodiment is: the microcontroller 1 instructs the microcontroller 1 to set two USB interface terminals connected to the electronic device through a manual control interface 6. The USB interface end that is the upstream port is set as the downstream port, and one of the USB interface ends that is the downstream port is set as the upstream port. Accordingly, the user can directly manually set the uplink port and multiple downlink ports directly through the manual control interface 6.

[Technical Effects of Embodiments of the Invention]

In the docking station 100 and its control method disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention, the microcontroller 1 detects a plurality of the USB interface ends, and sets the USB interface end first connected to the electronic device as an uplink port, The other multiple USB interface terminals are respectively set as downstream ports. Accordingly, when using the docking station 100, the user does not need to identify which is the USB interface terminal corresponding to the uplink port, and can directly connect the electronic device to any of the USB interface terminals, and The USB interface terminal connected to the electronic device is automatically set as the upstream port through the microcontroller 1 to output the video signal to the video signal output terminal OUT for playback.

The content disclosed above is only the preferred and feasible embodiments of the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical changes made using the description and schematic content of the present invention are included in the application of the present invention. Within the scope of the patent.

100, 100’: Docking station 1: Microcontroller 2A: The first signal multiplexer 2B: Second signal multiplexer 3: Video signal processor 4: Video signal converter 5A: The first power controller 5B: The second power controller 6: Manual control interface 7: Hub IN1: The first USB interface terminal IN2: The second USB interface OUT: Video signal output terminal D1: The first electronic device D2: Second electronic device D3: Display device S110: Detection steps S120: Setting steps S130: Play steps S140: Installation steps S150, S150’: Switching steps

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of the first embodiment of the docking station of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the use state of the first embodiment of the docking station of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of the second embodiment of the docking station of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic flowchart of the first embodiment of the control method of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a second embodiment of the control method of the present invention.

100: docking station 1: Microcontroller 2A: The first signal multiplexer 2B: Second signal multiplexer 3: Video signal processor 4: Video signal converter 5A: The first power controller 5B: The second power controller 6: Manual control interface IN1: The first USB interface terminal IN2: The second USB interface OUT: Video signal output terminal

Claims (10)

A docking station has a first USB interface terminal, a second USB interface terminal, and a video signal output terminal. The docking station includes: A microcontroller is connected to the first USB interface terminal and the second USB interface terminal. The microcontroller can determine whether the first USB interface terminal or the second USB interface terminal is connected through an operating program A first electronic device; when the first USB interface terminal is connected to the first electronic device, the operating program sets the first USB interface terminal as an upstream port, and the second USB interface terminal is set to A downstream port; A first signal multiplexer connected to the microcontroller, the first signal multiplexer is connected to the first electronic device through the uplink port, the uplink port can receive the first electronic device A first signal, and then select and output a video signal from the first signal; A second signal multiplexer is connected to the microcontroller, the second signal multiplexer is connected to a second electronic device through the downstream port, and the second signal multiplexer can receive the second A second signal of the electronic device; A video signal processor connected to the microcontroller and the first signal multiplexer, the video signal processor receives and performs signal processing on the video signal; and A video signal converter connected to the video signal processor. The video signal converter receives the signal processed video signal, converts the video signal into a video output signal and outputs it to the video signal output End to play. The docking station according to claim 1, wherein the docking station further includes a first power controller and a second power controller, and the first power controller is connected to the first signal multiplexer and Between the first USB interface terminal, the second power controller is connected between the second signal multiplexer and the second USB interface terminal; wherein, the operating program can control the first The power controller or the second power controller provides a main power of the first electronic device connected to the uplink port; the operating program can control the first power controller or the second power controller The second electronic device connected to the downlink port is provided with a surplus electric energy, the main electric energy is the electric energy of the output power that the first electronic device can accept, and the remaining electric energy is the main electric energy deducted by the docking station. The electrical energy that electrical energy can provide. The docking station according to claim 1, wherein the docking station further includes a manual control interface, the manual control interface is connected to the microcontroller, and the manual control interface can send a switching signal to the microcontroller Device, so that the microcontroller controls the first USB interface end or the second USB interface end corresponding to the upstream port to be set as the downstream port, and the first USB interface corresponding to the downstream port The terminal or the second USB interface terminal is set as the upstream port. The docking station according to claim 1, wherein each of the first electronic device and the second electronic device is installed with an application program, and the application program can send a switching signal to the microcontroller so that the The microcontroller controls the first USB interface terminal or the second USB interface terminal corresponding to the upstream port to be set as the downstream port, and the first USB interface terminal or the second USB interface terminal corresponding to the downstream port is set as the downstream port. The two USB interface ends are set as the upstream port. The docking station according to claim 1, wherein the docking station further includes a hub, and the hub is connected to the first USB interface end and the second USB interface end; the first electronic device passes through the The application program directly accesses the data of the second electronic device through the hub. The docking station according to claim 1, wherein the connector specifications of the first USB interface end and the second USB interface end are USB Type-C, and the first USB interface end and the second USB interface end are different from each other. The transmission specification is USB 3.1. A control method of docking station includes the following steps: Detecting whether one of the multiple USB interface terminals is connected to an electronic device; When it is detected that one of the USB interface terminals is connected to the electronic device, the USB interface terminal connected to the electronic device is set as an upstream port, and the other multiple USB interface terminals are respectively set to be downstream Port; and The electronic device connected to the uplink port is allowed to transmit a video signal to a video signal processor. The video signal processor can receive the signal-processed video signal through a video signal converter and output it to a video signal processor. Video signal output terminal for playback. The control method of the docking station according to claim 7, wherein the control method further includes: Preset a detection sequence and a preset sequence, and sequentially detect whether a plurality of the USB interface terminals are connected to the electronic device according to the detection sequence; When a plurality of the USB interface ends are detected, and it is detected that two of the USB interface ends are connected to two electronic devices as active devices, the two electronic devices connected to the two electronic devices are paired according to the preset sequence. One of the USB interface ends is set as the upstream port. The control method of the docking station according to claim 8, wherein the control method further includes: Installing an application program on the electronic device connected to the uplink port; Command the microcontroller through the application program to set two of the USB interface terminals connected to the electronic device, so that the USB interface terminal that is the upstream port is set to the downstream port, and one of them is the downstream port. The USB interface end of the downstream port is set as the upstream port. The control method of the docking station according to claim 8, wherein the control method further includes: Command the microcontroller through a manual control interface to set two of the USB interface terminals connected to the electronic device, so that the USB interface terminal that is the upstream port is set to the downstream port, and one of them is the downstream port. The USB interface end of the downstream port is set as the upstream port.

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