Conversion device

A conversion device is configured to include a first connection port that is a connection port of a USB Type C; a second connection port that is a connection port of a USB other than the USB Type C; a third connection port that is a connection port of a power supplying wire; a communication wire that is connected to a communication line between the first connection port and the second connection port; and a power wire that is connected to a power line between the first connection port and the third connection port.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a conversion device.

2. Related Art

In the related art, a universal serial bus (USB) standard defines various types. Recently, a standard which is called the USB Type C (refer to USB Type-C Cable and Connector Specification (searched on Dec. 28, 2015), Internet (URL: http://www.usb.org/developers/usbtypec/)) is defined and is begun to spread.

If a standard incompatible with the existing standard is defined, an apparatus supporting only one standard cannot be used as an apparatus supporting only another standard.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a technology of securing compatibility between a plurality of standards.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a conversion device including a first connection port that is a connection port of a USB Type C; a second connection port that is a connection port of a USB other than the USB Type C; a third connection port that is a connection port of a power supplying wire; a communication wire that is connected to a communication line between the first connection port and the second connection port; and a power wire that is connected to a power line between the first connection port and the third connection port.

That is, the conversion device can be connected to a wire of the USB Type C by the first connection port, a wire of the USB standard other than the USB Type C by the second connection port, and a power supplying wire by the third connection port. Hence, wires of the USB standards of two types different from each other can be connected to the conversion device, and the power supplying wire can be connected to the conversion device.

In addition, since the communication wire included in the conversion device is connected to the communication line between the first connection port and the second connection port, the communication lines according to the USB Type C and the USB other than the USB Type C which are connected to each connection port are connected to each other by the conversion device. Since the power wire included in the conversion device is connected to the power line between the first connection port and the third connection port, the power lines according to the USB Type C and the USB other than the USB Type C which are connected to each connection port are connected to each other by the conversion device.

As a result, a communication line and a power line branch from the USB Type C connected to the first connection port, and the conversion device can communicate with the USB other than the USB Type C connected to the second connection port and can supply power to an electronic apparatus connected to the third connection port. Hence, the conversion device can communicate between an electronic apparatus which is connected by the USB Type C and an electronic apparatus which is connected by the USB other than USB Type C. In addition, the conversion device can transmit and receive power between an electronic apparatus which is connected by the USB Type C and an electronic apparatus which is connected to the third connection port. For this reasons, it is possible to secure compatibility between a plurality of standards.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Here, embodiments of the invention will be described according to the following order.(1) Usage Aspect of Conversion Device(1-1) Configuration of Conversion Device(2) Processing of Control Circuit(3) Another Embodiment

(1) Usage Aspect of Conversion Device

FIG. 1Ais an explanatory diagram illustrating a usage aspect of a conversion device10according to an embodiment of the invention. The conversion device10according to the present embodiment is connected to a host20and a device30. The conversion device10is connected to the host20according to a standard of USB Type C. That is, the conversion device10includes a first connection port10awhich is a connection port of the USB Type C, and the host20includes a connection port20aof the USB Type C. Hence, one connector of the USB Type C which is included in a wire of the USB Type C is connected to the first connection port10a, and the other connector is connected to the connection port20a, and thereby, the conversion device10is connected to the host20by the wire of the USB Type C.

The conversion device10is connected to the device30in accordance with a standard of USB Type A. That is, the conversion device10includes a second connection port10bwhich is a connection port of the USB Type A, and the device30includes a connection port30bof the USB Type A. Hence, one connector of the USB Type A which is included in a wire of the USB Type A is connected to the second connection port10b, and the other connector is connected to the connection port30b, and thereby, the conversion device10is connected to the device30by the wire of the USB Type A.

Furthermore, the conversion device10is connected to the device30by a power line. That is, the conversion device10includes a third connection port10cwhich is a connection port of a power supplying wire, and the device30includes a connection port30aof the power supplying wire. Hence, one connector of the power supplying wire is connected to the third connection port10cof the conversion device10, the other connector is connected to the connection port30a, and thereby, power can be supplied from the conversion device10to the device30.

(1-1) Configuration of Conversion Device

FIG. 1Bis a diagram illustrating a configuration of the conversion device10that is used together with the host20and the device30which can perform communication corresponding to a SuperSpeed standard. The conversion device10includes a power supply circuit11and a redriver circuit12. The power supply circuit11has a function of generating power which is supplied to the device30connected to the third connection port10c, based on the power which is supplied from the host20connected to the first connection port10a, and includes a control circuit11aand a voltage boosting/dropping circuit11b.

The control circuit11aincludes a wire which is connected to the first connection port10a(by a CC pin), and wires which are connected to the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11band the third connection port10c. The control circuit11ais a circuit (for example, circuit including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like) which performs a predetermined function in accordance with a predetermined order. The control circuit11acan detect whether or not a connector is inserted into the third connection port10cthrough a wire connected to the third connection port10c.

Furthermore, the control circuit11acan output profile data of power to the host20through the wire connected to the first connection port10a. That is, in the present embodiment, a storage medium (not illustrated) included in the control circuit11astores the profile data in accordance with a required specification of the device30in advance. If the control circuit11aoutputs the profile data to the first connection port10a, the host20connected to the first connection port10aacquires the profile data. Then, the host20outputs power that the profile data indicates from the connection port20a. As a result, power is input from the first connection port10athrough the wire of the USB Type C, and is supplied to the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11b.

Hence, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to supply the profile data that the host20of the USB Type C usually requires to perform power supplying (Power Delivery) from the conversion device10. Accordingly, although the device30does not support the standard of USB Type C (Power Delivery), the device30can instruct the conversion device10to output the power to the host20.

In the embodiment, the profile data is defined according to the required specification of the device30, a configuration is provided in which a voltage closest to a voltage defined in the required specification of the device30is output from the host20and loss of voltage conversion of the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bwhich will be described below is prevented. For example, in a case where a voltage defined in the required specification of the device30is 48 V, the profile is defined in advance such that 20 V which is an upper limit value of a voltage is output from the host20, and the profile is stored in the control circuit11a.

Furthermore, the control circuit11ais connected to the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bby a communication line and a power line, and the control circuit11acan output a control signal instructing an output or the like of power (for example, value of voltage) to the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bthrough the communication line. In addition, the control circuit11areceives power (DC power of 5 V in the present embodiment) for driving the control circuit11athrough the power line of the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11b.

The voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bgenerates power of a voltage stored in response to the profile data, based on the power supplied from the host connected to the first connection port10a. In the present embodiment, the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bincludes a wire which is connected to the first connection port10a(by a Power pin), a wire which is connected to the third connection port10c, and a wire which is connected to the control circuit11a.

The voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bgenerates power in which a voltage is boosted or dropped based on the power that is input through the wire connected to the first connection port10a. In the present embodiment, a voltage or the like of the output power is determined based on an instruction from the control circuit11a. In the present embodiment, a storage medium (not illustrated) included in the control circuit11astores a required specification of power of the device30in advance.

In a case where the power which is supplied from the first connection port10aon the basis of the profile data is different from the power that the device30requires, the control circuit11ainstructs the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bto generate the latter power from the former power. As a result, the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bgenerates power according to the required specification of the device30from, for example, an input voltage. In a case where the power which is supplied from the first connection port10aon the basis of the profile data is equal to the power that the device30requires, the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bdoes not convert a voltage.

In the embodiment, the control circuit11acan instruct the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bto start output of power. As described above, the control circuit11afunctions as a connection detecting circuit which detects whether or not a connector is connected to the third connection port10c, and thus, if the control circuit11adetects that the connector is connected to the third connection port10c, the control circuit11ainstructs the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bto start output of power. As a result, power is supplied to the device30connected to the third connection port10cthrough the connector connected to the third connection port10cand the wire extending from the connector. According to the configuration, it is possible to prevent a voltage from being applied to the third connection port10cin a state where a wire which has to receive power is not connected to the conversion device10.

In addition, according to the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to output power according to the required specification of the device30from the conversion device10. In addition, even in a case where the required specification of the power of the device30exceeds the specification of USB Type C (for example, in a case where a voltage value exceeds 20 V which is an upper limit value of USB Type C), the conversion device10can supply the power of the specification that the device30requires. The voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bcan generate DC power of a default voltage (5 V in the present embodiment), based on the power which is input through the wire connected to the first connection port10a, and output the voltage. The generated power is supplied to the control circuit11aand the second connection port10b.

The redriver circuit12is connected to the first connection port10aand the second connection port10bthrough communication lines, and shapes a waveform of a signal which is transmitted from the first connection port10ato the second connection port10b(or transmitted from the second connection port10bto the first connection port10a). It is preferable that the redriver circuit12be applied to a signal whose frequency is high and frequency loss cannot be neglected, for example, a signal defined by a SuperSpeed standard.

Specifically, in a case where a high frequency signal with a waveform illustrated inFIG. 1Cis input to an A side of the first connection port10aillustrated inFIG. 1Bfrom the host20, the signal can have a waveform illustrated inFIG. 1Don a B side of the first connection port10aillustrated inFIG. 1Band a waveform of the signal can collapse like the waveform illustrated inFIG. 1Eimmediately before (on a C side illustrated inFIG. 1B) the redriver circuit12, and such a change of the waveform of the signal is noticeable in a high frequency signal. However, if the redriver circuit12illustrated inFIG. 1Bexists, a signal which is deformed as illustrated inFIG. 1Ecan be shaped as a waveform illustrated inFIG. 1Fto be output on a D side ofFIG. 1B.

Meanwhile, in a case where a high frequency signal with a waveform illustrated inFIG. 1Cis input to an a side of the second connection port10billustrated inFIG. 1Bfrom the device30, the signal can have a waveform illustrated inFIG. 1Don a b side of the second connection port10billustrated inFIG. 1Band a waveform of the signal can collapse like the waveform illustrated inFIG. 1Eimmediately before (on a c side illustrated inFIG. 1B) the redriver circuit12, and such a change of the waveform of the signal is noticeable in a high frequency signal. However, if the redriver circuit12illustrated inFIG. 1Bexists, a signal which is deformed as illustrated inFIG. 1Ecan be shaped as a waveform illustrated inFIG. 1Fto be output on a d side ofFIG. 1B. Hence, according to the present embodiment, a signal defined by the SuperSpeed standard that is a high frequency signal can be appropriately transmitted between the host20and the device30, and thereby, appropriate communication can be performed.

As described above, the conversion device10can relay communication between the device30and the host20which are connected to the second connection port10b. Hence, the conversion device10can perform communication between the host20which uses the USB Type C and the device30which uses the USB other than the USB Type C. In addition, the conversion device10can supply power from the host20to the device30connected to the third connection port10c, and can supply power to the device30without using an AC adapter or the like. In addition, the conversion device10converts power supplied from the host20into power which can be used for the device30, and thus, even in a case where standards of the USB for the host20and the device30are different from each other, power can be supplied from the host20to the device30. For this reasons, according to the conversion device10, compatibility between a plurality of standards can be secured.

(2) Processing of Control Circuit

FIG. 2Ais a flowchart illustrating processing of the control circuit11a. In the present embodiment, the host20is connected to the conversion device10, default power is supplied from the host20through the first connection port10a, DC power of 5 V is supplied from the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bto the control circuit11a, based on the power, and thereby, the control circuit11astarts processing illustrated inFIG. 2A. In addition, here, it is assumed that an example is used in which DC power of 48 V is defined as the required specification of the power of the device30.

In the processing, the control circuit11adetects whether or not a connector of the device30is connected to the third connection port10c(step S100). In step S100, in a case where it is not determined that the connector of the device30is connected to the third connection port10c, the control circuit11arepeats determination of step S100at a constant time.

In step S100, in a case where it is determined that the connector of the device30is connected to the third connection port10c, the control circuit11aoutputs the profile data to the host20with reference to a storage medium which is not illustrated (step S110). If the host20acquires the profile data, the host20outputs power that the profile data indicates to the conversion device10. In the present example, the device30requires DC power of 48 V, and thus, the profile data indicates power (5 A) of 20 V that is an upper limit voltage. Hence, if the host20acquires the profile data, DC power of 20 V and 5 A is supplied to the first connection port10athrough a wire of USB Type C.

Subsequently, the control circuit11ainstructs the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bto output a voltage (step S115). That is, the control circuit11aoutputs a control signal to the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bsuch that power according to the required specification of the device30is output, with reference to the storage medium which is not illustrated. For example, in an example in which the device30requires DC power of 48 V, the control circuit11ainstructs the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bto output the DC power of 48 V. As a result, the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bgenerates power according to the required specification of the device30.

Subsequently, the control circuit11ainstructs the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11bto start output (step S120). As a result, the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11boutputs power according to the required specification of the device30from the third connection port10c. Subsequently, the control circuit11arepeats processing subsequent to step S100. However, step S100is repeatedly performed, in a case where it is not determined that the connector of the device30is connected to the third connection port10c, that is, in a case where the connector of the third connection port10cis pulled out, the control circuit11astops conversion of the power and output of the power of the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11b, and repeats the processing of step S100.

(3) Another Embodiment

The aforementioned embodiment is an example for performing the invention, and, as long as the conversion device has a configuration in which communication lines of the USB according to standards different from each other are connected and power is transmitted and received through a power line of the USB according to one standard, various other embodiments can be employed.

For example, the conversion device10includes the redriver circuit12, but if a signal to be transmitted is a signal which can neglect influence of high frequency loss, for example, a signal according to a High Speed standard, the redriver circuit12can be omitted.FIG. 2Billustrates a configuration of a conversion device100which is configured by omitting the redriver circuit12from the conversion device10illustratedFIG. 1B. In the configuration illustrated in theFIG. 2B, configuration elements to which the same symbols or reference numerals as those illustrated inFIG. 1Bare attached have the same configuration as the configuration elements illustrated inFIG. 1B.

As such, although the redriver circuit12is omitted, a signal can be transmitted without shaping a waveform as long as the signal is a low frequency signal. Hence, as illustrated inFIG. 2B, power which is supplied from the host20is converted according to necessity to be supplied to the device30by using the power supply circuit11in the same manner as inFIG. 1B, and thereby, it is possible to provide the conversion device100which can secure compatibility between a plurality of standards.

Furthermore, a first connection port may be a connection port of the USB Type C. Hence, a shape or a terminal of an insertion portion of a connector may be disposed such that a connector of the USB Type C is connected and thereby communication is performed (power may be able to be transmitted and received). Alternatively, a direct connection to a connection port of USB Type C of the host20may be performed without passing through a cable.

A second connection port may be a connection port of the USB other than the USB Type C. Hence, a shape or a terminal of an insertion portion of the connector may be disposed such that a connector according to a USB standard other than USB Type C is connected, and thereby, communication and transmission/reception of power can be performed. For example, the USB Type A or B, the mini-USB Type A, B or AB, micro-USB Type A, B, or AB, or the like can be used as the USB standard other than the USB Type C. In addition, a direct connection to a connection port of the USB of the device30may be performed without passing through a cable.

A third connection port may be a connection port of a power supplying wire. That is, power may be able to be transmitted and received between an electronic apparatus and a conversion device which are connected to the connection port. A shape or a terminal of the third connection port can have aspects according to various standards. A direct connection to the connection port of the power supplying wire of the device30may be performed without passing through a cable.

A communication wire may be able to connect a communication line between the first connection port and the second connection port. That is, a wire may be formed such that communication is performed between an electronic apparatus of the USB Type C connected to the first connection port and an electronic apparatus of the USB other than the USB Type C connected to the second connection port. Of course, the communication wire may include various circuits, for example, a redriver (repeater) circuit or the like which shapes a waveform of a signal for communication according to the SuperSpeed standard or the like.

The power wire may be able to connect a power line between the first connection port and the third connection port. That is, the wire may be formed such that power is transmitted and received between the electronic apparatus of the USB Type C connected to the first connection port and the electronic apparatus connected to the third connection port. Of course, the power wire may include various circuits such as a power supply circuit for generating power according to specifications (voltage, current, and the like) of power necessary for the electronic apparatus connected to the third connection port. In addition, as long as the host20can supply power according to the specification of the power that the device30requires, the first connection port may be directly connected to the third connection port through a power line, and may pass through only a switch which switches ON/OFF of supplying of power, without using the voltage boosting/dropping circuit11b.

Specifically, the power wire can employ a configuration including a power supply circuit which generates power that is supplied to a device connected to the third connection port, based on power supplied from the host connected to the first connection port. According to the configuration, a conversion device converts power supplied from the host into power which can be used for the device, and thus, it is possible to supply power from the host to the device, even in a case where standards of the USB for the host and the device are different from each other.

Furthermore, a configuration may be provided in which the power supply circuit outputs profile data of power the host through a wire connected to the first connection port. According to the configuration, it is possible to supply the profile data that the host of the USB Type C usually requires to perform power supplying (Power Delivery) from a conversion device. Accordingly, although the device does not support the standard of USB Type C (Power Delivery), the device can instruct the conversion device to output power to the host.

The profile data may be stored in a storage medium included in the conversion device, default profile data may be stored, and the profile data may be able to be rewritten based on an operation of a user, communication with the device, or the like. For example, in the aforementioned configuration illustrated inFIG. 1B, the control circuit11aor the like is configured to include a rewritable EEPROM or the like, and the EEPROM or the like is configured to store profile data. In the configuration, if the profile data can be rewritten based on an operation of a user, instruction of an electronic apparatus connected to the conversion device10, or the like, it is possible to provide the conversion device10corresponding to various devices30.

Furthermore, the power supply circuit may include a voltage boosting/dropping circuit which generates power of a voltage stored corresponding to the profile data, based on the power supplied from the host connected to the first connection port. According to the configuration, even in a case where the required specification of the power of the device exceeds the specification of USB Type C (for example, in a case where a voltage value exceeds 20 V that is an upper limit of the standard of the USB Type C), it is possible to supply power of a specification that the device requires from a conversion device. The required specification of the power that the device requires may be stored in a storage medium that the conversion device includes, default required specification may be stored, and the required specification may be able to rewritten, based on an operation of a user, communication of a device, or the like. In addition, a voltage according to an input may be generated by inputting a type of a device which is connected to a user or a voltage value which is output, by providing a switch to the conversion device10, or the like.

Furthermore, the power supply circuit may include a configuration in which a connection detecting circuit which detects whether or not a connector is connected to the third connection port is provided and when the connection detecting circuit detects that the connector is connected to the third connection port, the power supply circuit starts supplying of power to the third connection port. According to the configuration, it is possible to prevent a voltage from being applied to the third connection port in a state where a wire which has to receive power is not connected to the conversion device.

Furthermore, as described above, a technology of transmitting and receiving power by using a power line of the USB according to one standard in a state where communication lines of the USB according to different standards are connected to the conversion device can also be realized as a method.