Thomson Licensing

Fengshuan Zhou

Sin Hui Cheah

A media device and docking device used in a home entertainment system are described. The entertainment systemincludes a docking device operating in several modes allowing the media device to be charged by the docking device and allowing the docking device to be used for conveying a signal to the media device from the docking device when the media device is connected to the docking station and conveying the signal through the docking device to another media device when the first media device is not connected to the docking device.

System and method for operating a media device

An interface apparatus () such as a docking station interfaces various electronic devices () and reduces the number of required connector pins and input/output (I/O) ports. According to an exemplary embodiment, the interface apparatus () includes a first circuit (), a second circuit () and a third circuit (). The first circuit () provides an output signal indicating a connection to a first electronic device (). The second circuit () controls a switching function of the interface apparatus () responsive to a first electrical signal from the first electronic device (). The third circuit () generates a control signal for controlling a second electronic device () responsive to a second electrical signal from the first electronic device (). The output signal, the first electrical signal, and the second electrical signal are transmitted between the interface apparatus () and the first electronic device () through a single lead.

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Carmel, IN, United States of America

Fengshuan Zhou