Standard Microsystems Corporation

Motorola Corporation

Other

Henry Wurzburg

Stephen H Kelley

Brian W Dellande

James R MacDonald

Trenton B Henry

Richard C Counts

Tetsuo Yamamoto

Mark Colman Atchison

Drew Jon Dutton

Richard W Ulmer

Klaas Wortel

Morgan H Monks

Hans L Magnusson

Robert N Allgood

John W Merritt

Wayne Liang

Mark Yi-Li Fu

Guy A Stewart

Christopher D Sawran

Jon W Cloutier

Robert E Hollingsworth

Noel M McCroskey

Steve Nelson

Mark Y Fu

In various embodiments, a computer system may include a computer controller to send and/or receive sideband signals to/from a USB device. In some embodiments, the USB device may include a USB controller to send/receive sideband signals to/from the computer controller. The computer controller and USB controller may allow communications between the computer system and the USB device when either of the computer system or USB device is in a low power state. The sideband signal sent between the computer system and the USB device may trigger the other of the computer system or USB device to enter a normal power state. In some embodiments, the computer controller and/or USB controller may be further coupled to a memory to buffer data to be sent to the computer system or USB device after the computer system or USB device returns to a normal power state.

Power managed USB for computing applications using a controller

System and method for providing a high speed connection to a memory medium of a mobile device. The mobile device may be a mobile phone or other type of portable electronic device. The memory medium may be removable and/or may be flash memory, as desired. The mobile device may include a USB hub that provides a direct high speed connection between an external device and a memory medium of the mobile device. The USB hub may also provide a connection (possibly high speed) between the external device and the processor of the mobile device. The mobile device may also include a high speed connection between the processor of the mobile device and the memory medium.

Providing a high-speed connection between a memory medium of a mobile device and an external device

A solid-state floppy disk drive is disclosed. In one embodiment, a solid-state floppy disk drive may include a non-volatile memory and a connector for coupling the solid-state floppy disk drive to a computer system. The non-volatile memory may store instructions and data which may allow the solid-state floppy disk drive to emulate a mechanical floppy disk drive having a bootable floppy disk inserted into it. The computer system may be booted using the solid-state floppy disk drive.

Bootable solid state floppy disk drive

A system for automatically switching peripheral connectivity between two host devices based on respective connectivity of the hosts. The method may be used where peripherals are usually attached to one host and are automatically switched to a second host when the second host is attached to the system. A USB switching hub may be operable to automatically switch connectivity of the peripheral device(s) from the first host device to the second host device when the second host device is connected to the USB device. This automates the process for the end user when normally all peripherals are attached to one host, and some or all peripherals are shared with a second host when the second host is attached.

Method for automatically switching USB peripherals between USB hosts

In various embodiments, a system may include a processor, a host controller coupled to the processor, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device coupled to the host controller and a non-USB device coupled to the USB device. In some embodiments, the host controller may be configured to communicate with the non-USB device through a small computer system interface (SCSI) pass-through command. In some embodiments, a method may include a host controller sending a SCSI pass-through command to a USB device coupled to a non-USB device, the USB device receiving the SCSI pass-through command, and the USB device interacting with the non-USB device in response to the SCSI pass-through command.

Transferring system information via universal serial bus (USB)

If a USB device is turned off or is not active, the device may be electrically disconnected from a USB host controller. The device may be electrically disconnected through a physical interface on the device. In some embodiments, if the device becomes active during a wait period (e.g., 2-3 seconds) prior to electrically disconnecting the device, the device may not be electrically disconnected. In some embodiments, when the device is electrically disconnected from the USB host controller and no system activity of a bus mastering peripheral is occurring, the CPU may enter a low power state if other conditions are met. In some embodiments, if the USB device becomes active after electrically disconnecting, the electrical disconnection may be discontinued.

Electrically disconnecting a peripheral device

A system and method for maintaining communications with a radio frequency (RF) peripheral device such as an RF input device and an RF output device. A computer may search for an RF peripheral device by transmitting a signal request on available channels until a response is received from an RF peripheral device. If the RF channel becomes busy and/or jammed, the RF peripheral device may tune into a predetermined channel while the computer scans for another channel to use. Once the computer finds a better channel, the computer may go to the predetermined channel and broadcast the new channel location to the RF peripheral device. In addition, if an RF signal arrives incomplete or corrupt, the computer may transmit a negative acknowledgement to the RF peripheral device, which may retransmit the previous RF signal.

Communication protocol for personal computer system human interface devices over a low bandwidth, bi-directional radio frequency link

In some embodiments, if a card in a card reader has not been accessed in a first specified amount of time, the card may be powered down. The card may be powered back up if an attempt is made to access the card. In some embodiments, if a memory card is in the memory card slot of the card reader, but has not been accessed in a second specified amount of time, the card reader may be electrically disconnected from the host controller if a sideband signal is available to signal the card reader when to electrically reconnect.

Systems and methods for power reduction in systems having removable media devices

If a USB device is turned off or is not active, the device may be electrically disconnected from a USB host controller. The device may be electrically disconnected through a physical interface on the device. In some embodiments, if the device becomes active during a wait period (e.g., 2&#x2013;3 seconds) prior to electrically disconnecting the device, the device may not be electrically disconnected. In some embodiments, when the device is electrically disconnected from the USB host controller and no system activity of a bus mastering peripheral is occurring, the CPU may enter a low power state if other conditions are met. In some embodiments, if the USB device becomes active after electrically disconnecting, the electrical disconnection may be discontinued.

Peripheral device feature allowing processors to enter a low power state

In various embodiments, icons, specific to a type of memory card (e.g., a flash memory card) inserted into a card reader may be displayed. In some embodiments, the card reader may be electrically connected to the host controller each time a memory card is inserted into the card reader. In various embodiments, different device identifications may be reported as if the card reader were actually several different card readers each dedicated to a different memory card type. A registry of an operating system may be preloaded with a different icon for each of the different card reader types. An icon may be displayed on a display specific to the type of memory card inserted. When the memory card is removed, the card reader may be electrically disconnected and the displayed icon may be removed or replaced.

Automatic drive icon assignment by media type in single slot USB card readers

An interface chip is disclosed. In one embodiment, an interface chip includes a processor coupled to an internal data bus and an internal address bus. A plurality of interfaces, including at least on serial interface and at least one parallel interface are also coupled to the processor via the internal address bus and the internal data bus. The interface chip also includes data movement circuitry, wherein the data movement circuitry is configured for transmitting data between a first of the plurality of interfaces and a second of the plurality of interfaces using time division multiplexing.

System and method for data transmission

A drive controller for controlling multiple disk drives is disclosed. In one embodiment, the drive controller includes a physical interface circuit configured for coupling to a peripheral bus. A plurality of serial interface engines may be coupled to the physical interface circuit. A buffer may be coupled to each of the plurality of serial interface engines and an interface controller. The interface controller may be configured for coupling to a plurality of disk drives. Since the drive controller includes only a single physical interface circuit, a single buffer, and a single interface controller, its complexity is reduced to near that of a single drive controller while being capable for simultaneously providing interfaces for each of a plurality of disk drives.

Multiple drive controller

A portable RAM drive comprising data stored on a non-volatile memory and transferable to a volatile memory when the portable RAM drive is coupled to a computer system. When the portable RAM drive is plugged into the computer system, the data from the non-volatile memory may be transferred to the volatile memory for faster access by the computer. If the portable RAM drive is unplugged from the computer, an internal power source may power the portable RAM drive long enough to transfer the data from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, the portable RAM drive may use a restraining device or an indicator light to indicate to the user that the portable RAM drive should not be unplugged from the computer because the data has not yet been transferred from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory.

Portable RAM drive

A hub-less docking station for providing additional universal serial bus (USB). In one embodiment, a docking station includes a docking connector and a plurality of USB jacks. The docking connector is configured to allow a portable computer to be coupled to the docking station, while the USB jacks are configured for coupling to USB peripherals. The portable computer includes a USB controller for supporting a plurality of USB ports. Signal pins from the USB controller are coupled to the USB jacks through the docking connector. Power signals and current sense signals are multiplexed by a multiplexer in the portable computer, and are de-multiplexed by a de-multiplexer in the docking station. The de-multiplexed power and current sense signals are provided to the USB jacks. The docking station is thus able to provide a plurality of additional USB ports to the portable computer, when docked, without the use of a USB hub.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Henry Wurzburg