RECONFIGURABLE CONNECTOR

Abstract: A reconfigurable connector (101) for a peripheral device which has a first standard configuration in which data is sent and received, and which has a second configuration in which data is sent and received, and in which power is supplied to an interfaced device (180) through a predefined signal pin (106) on the reconfigurable connector (101). Included in the reconfigurable connector are a controller (111) and a sensor which senses a predetermined signal (107). In response to the predetermined signal (107), the controller (111) alters a configuration of the reconfigurable connector from the first standard configuration to the second configuration. In the first standard configuration, the predefined signal pin (106) is configured to provide to the interfaced device a signal which indicates the peripheral device is supplied with power. In the second configuration, the predefined signal pin (106) is configured to supply power to the interfaced device.

Description: RECONFIGURABLE CONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field Of The Invention The present invention relates to a connector for a peripheral device, and, more particularly, to a reconfigurable connector which can be configured to supply power from the peripheral device to a device which is interfaced with the connector. Description Of The Related Art Conventionally, a device interfaced with a parallel port of a peripheral device receives power from an external power source via a power adapter. One example of such a device is a network dongle. A network dongle, also known as a network expansion device, is an adapter that plugs into a parallel port of a network peripheral device, such as a printer, for the purpose of connecting the network peripheral device to a network. An example of a network dongle installed into a standard parallel port of a printer is shown in Figure 1. More specifically, Figure 1 shows dongle 81 interfaced with standard parallel connector 11 of printer 10. Figure 1 further shows that a conventional network dongle, such as network dongle 81, requires connection to a network via network cable 82 and to an external power source (not shown) via power cord 84 and power adapter 90. Power adapter 90 converts power from an external power source to power that can be used by the network dongle. However, a major concern for manufacturers of network dongles is both power cord 84 and power adapter 90, which output EMI emissions which possibly can interfere with broadcast communications. These EMI emissions can be a problem for the manufacturer when the network dongle undergoes standardized testing. Additionally, the cost of manufacturing the network dongle increases greatly due to the cost of power adapter 90. Moreover, the power adapter and the power cord also make it more difficult to use the network dongle with a peripheral device since the extra power cord and power adapter means that at least one extra power outlet is required. This requirement for an extra power outlet can become a problem due to the size of the power adapter which may cover many power outlets on a power strip, especially in the case where the peripheral device to which the network dongle is connected has multiple power connections which require many of the power outlets on the power strip. Thus, there exists a need for a peripheral device interface connector which permits not only the interfacing of signals, but also the transfer of power from the peripheral device to an interfaced device, such as a network dongle, so as to eliminate the need, by the interfaced device, for an external power source and thus for an external power adapter for and a power cord. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention addresses the foregoing need by providing a reconfigurable connector for a peripheral device, which can be configured so as to pass power from the peripheral device to an interfaced device. Because the reconfigurable connector passes power from the peripheral device to the interfaced device, the need for an external power εource, and thus for a power adapter and a power cord for the interfaced device, is eliminated. Thus, according to one aspect, the present invention is a reconfigurable connector for a peripheral, which has a first standard configuration in which data is sent and received, and which has a second configuration in which data is sent and received and in which power is supplied to an interfaced device through a predefined signal pin on the reconfigurable connector. Included in the reconfigurable connector are a sensor which senses a predetermined signal and a controller. In response to the predetermined signal, the controller alters a configuration of the reconfigurable connector from the first standard configuration to the second configuration. In the first standard configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to provide to the interfaced device a signal which indicates that the peripheral device is supplied with power. In the εecond configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to supply power to the interfaced device. Advantageously, the foregoing reconfigurable connector eliminates the need for an external power source for a device which is interfaced to a peripheral device. Thus, proximity of an external power source for the interfaced device is eliminated as a concern when deciding where to physically locate the peripheral device. According to another aspect, the present invention is a reconfigurable connector for a peripheral device. The reconfigurable connector has a plurality of signal pins for transmitting data between the peripheral device and an interfaced device and a reconfigurable high signal pin, which, in a first configuration, transmits a power status signal to the interfaced device, and which, in the second configuration, transmits power to the interfaced device. Included in the reconfigurable connector are a reconfigurable high signal pin and a plurality of connection pins which receive predetermined signals from an interfaced device when the interfaced device is connected to the peripheral. The reconfigurable high signal pin has a first configuration in which the reconfigurable high εignal pin εupplies a signal to the interfaced device indicating that the peripheral device is εupplied with power and a εecond configuration in which the reconfigurable high signal pin εupplieε power from the peripheral to the interfaced device. A controller receiveε the predetermined signal from the plurality connection pins, and, in responεe to the predetermined εignalε, alterε a configuration of the reconfigurable high εignal pin from the firεt configuration to the εecond configuration. According to still another aεpect, the preεent invention iε a reconfigurable connector for a peripheral which haε a firεt standard configuration in which data iε sent and received and which has a εecond configuration in which data iε εent and received and in which power iε εupplied to an interfaced device through a predefined εignal pin on the reconfigurable connector Included in the reconfigurable connector are an optical εenεor which includes a continuouεly radiating light beam, the optical εenεor εensing a break in the continuously radiating light beam caused by the interfaced device, and a controller which, in responεe to a εenεed break in the continuouεly radiating light beam, alters a configuration of the reconfigurable connector from the firεt εtandard configuration to the second configuration. In the firεt εtandard configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to provide to the interfaced device a signal which indicates that the peripheral device is supplied with power, and in the second configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to supply power to the interfaced device. According to still another aspect, the preεent invention is a printer having a reconfigurable connector. The printer includes a printer engine for generating images based on print data received by the reconfigurable connector, and a parallel port connector having a plurality of signal pinε through which print data is received from an interfaced device, a predefined signal pin which signals to the interfaced device that the printer is supplied with power, and at least two εtandard iεolated ground pinε which ground the parallel port connector with the interfaced device. A senεor connected to the at least two standard isolated ground pinε εenεeε a predetermined signal received by the at least two standard isolated ground pins, and a controller outputε a control εignal to configure the predefined εignal pin from a first εtandard configuration to a εecond configuration in response to receipt of the predetermined signal. A power switch εwitcheε the predefined εignal pin from the firεt εtandard configuration to the εecond configuration upon receiving the control εignal from the controller. When the reconfigurable connector iε in the firεt εtandard configuration, the predefined εignal pin is configured to provide to the interfaced device a εignal which indicateε that the peripheral device is supplied with power, and when the reconfigurable connector is in the second configuration, the predefined εignal pin iε configured to εupply power to the interfaced device. In the firεt εtandard configuration, the power switch is open so as to prevent power from pasεing through the predefined signal pin, and, in the second configuration, the power switch is closed εo as to supply power from the printer to the interfaced device. This brief εum ary has been provided so that the nature of the invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by reference to the following detailed deεcription of the preferred embodimentε thereof in connection with the attached drawingε. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 εhowε a conventional network dongle connected to a laεer printer having a εtandard parallel port, to a network and to a power adapter. Figure 2 εhowε a Canon® network dongle interfacing to a laser printer having the reconfigurable connector of the present invention and to a network. Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram which εhows an interface between a firεt embodiment of the reconfigurable connector of the present invention and a Canon® network dongle. Figure 4 is a flow diagram which εhows procesε stepε for configuring the reconfigurable connector of the present invention. Figure 5 iε a diagram εhowing an interface between a second embodiment of the reconfigurable connector of the present invention and an interfaced device having a diεtal arm. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] The reconfigurable connector of the present invention utilizeε a εtandard parallel connector phyεical pin arrangement, as described in Centronics Engineering Standard. Number 9, Revision B, Genicom Corp., April 9, 1980 (e.g., Amphenol 57-40360 or its equivalent) , IBM Personal Computer Technical Reference Options And Adapters Manual. Number 6322509, IBM Corp., and Standard Signalling Method For Bi-Directional Parallel Peripheral Interface For Personal Computerε. IEEE-1284 (1994) . Likewiεe, when operating in its default configuration, also called a first standard configuration, the reconfigurable connector utilizes standard pin aεsignments, which are also described in Centronics Engineering Standard. IBM Perεonal Computer Technical Reference Options And Adapters Manual, and Standard Signalling Method For Bi-Directional Parallel Peripheral Interface For Personal Computers cited above. The first standard configuration pin asεignmentε include a plurality of output signal, pins, through which the peripheral device pasεes data and other electrical signals to the interfaced device; a high signal pin, through which the peripheral device passes a power εtatuε signal to the interfaced device; and at least two ground pins which have been modified to receive signals from the interfaced device. The reconfigurable connector of the present invention also operates in a second configuration when a device having pin asεignmentε identical to those of a Canon® network dongle iε connected to the reconfigurable connector of the preεent invention. The pin aεεignmentε for a Canon® network dongle are identical to thoεe for a εtandard parallel interface, except that one of the ground pins, for example, ground pin #2 (GND2) , is provided with a predetermined εignal, εuch aε a "high" εignal, (or iε left open) , rather than a ground connection. In the first standard configuration of the reconfigurable connector, data is sent and received and, in the second configuration, data is sent and received and power is supplied to an interfaced device through a predefined signal pin on the reconfigurable connector. Included in the reconfigurable connector are a senεor which εenεes a predetermined εignal and a controller which, in reεponεe to the predetermined εignal, alterε a configuration of the reconfigurable connector from the firεt εtandard configuration to the εecond configuration. In the firεt standard configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to provide to the interfaced device a εignal which indicateε that the printer is εupplied with power, and in the εecond configuration, the predefined εignal pin iε configured to εupply power to the interfaced device. Figure 2 shows an overall view of reconfigurable connector 101 of the present invention inεtalled in printer 100. Printer 100 includeε printer engine 170 (εhown in Figure 3) which generates print data and which transmits the print data, along with control signalε, from printer 100 to dongle 180 via reconfigurable connector 101. Aε εhown in Figure 2, dongle 180, which connectε to reconfigurable connector 101, iε alεo connected to a network via network cable 182. It iε noted that while Figure 2 εhowε reconfigurable connector 101 in connection with a printer, i.e., printer 100, reconfigurable connector 101 can be used with any commercially available peripheral device which has a connector which can be modified as discussed below. For example, reconfigurable connector 101 can be used in a facsimile machine, a copier, a εcanner, a perεonal computer and the like. Additionally, while Figure 2 depictε reconfigurable connector 101 aε female connector, it is noted that the reconfigurable connector of the present invention can alεo be a male connector. Figure 3 εhowε a εchematic circuit diagram of the circuitry of reconfigurable connector 101 and parallel connector 181 of dongle 180. Included in reconfigurable connector 101 iε output signal pin 105, which is one of a plurality of output signal pins in the reconfigurable connector, through which data is pasεed from printer 100 to dongle 180. The number and function of εuch output εignal pinε are defined in Centronics Engineering Standard. Number 9, Revision B, Genicom Corp., April 9, 1980, IBM Personal Computer Technical Reference Options And Adapters Manual. Number 6322509, IBM Corp., and Standard Signalling Method For Bi-Directional Parallel Peripheral Interface For Personal Computerε. IEEE-1284 (1994) . Since the other output signal pins in the plurality of output εignal pinε are identical in both structure and function to output εignal pin 105, a detailed description thereof iε omitted for the εake of brevity. When not interfaced with a compatible connector, reconfigurable connector 101 returnε to a default state. A compatible connector is a connector which mateε to reconfigurable connector 101 and which includes either ground connectionε at ground pins 107 and 109 or a ground connection at ground pin 109 and a predetermined εignal at ground pin 107. In the default εtate, reconfigurable connector 101 is in the firεt εtandard configuration, and all output εignal pins, such as output signal pin 105, are disabled, so as to prevent damage to inputs of a not yet powered-up interfaced device. Output εignal pin 105 remains disabled until controller 111 enables output signal pin 105. Controller enables output signal pin when it detects that a compatible connector is connected to reconfigurable connector 101 and is powered-up. When output signal pin 105 is enabled, in both the firεt εtandard configuration and the εecond configuration of reconfigurable connector 101, output εignal pin 105 iε able to paεε data and control εignalε from printer 100 to an interfaced device, εuch aε dongle 180. Reconfigurable connector 101 further includeε high εignal pin 106. In the firεt εtandard configuration of reconfigurable connector 101, high signal pin 106 iε conventionally uεed to tranεmit a power εtatuε εignal to an interfaced device. For example, when interfaced with a personal computer, high signal pin 106 transmits a power statuε εignal (a logic high εignal) to the perεonal computer, which indicateε that power iε εupplied to the printer. Of courεe, if power iε not supplied to the printer, the perεonal computer will not receive a signal from high pin 106 which will result in an error mesεage being diεplayed to the user. Thus, - li ¬ the personal computer uses the power status signal to determine the operational status of the printer. In the second configuration of reconfigurable connector 101, however, high signal pin 106 is reconfigured to supply power to an interfaced device, in this case, dongle 180. Additionally, reconfigurable connector 101 includes isolated ground pin 107 and isolated ground pin 109. However, these pins have been modified by using pull-up resiεtorε 112 which permit the detection of electrical εignalε, εuch aε a predetermined εignal. Aε deεcribed below, thiε predetermined εignal iε used to configure reconfigurable connector 101 into the εecond configuration. Output εignal pin 105 interfaceε to input εignal pin 185 on dongle 180. Input signal pin 185 is one of a plurality of input signal pins, through which dongle 180 receives data and control signals from printer 100. High signal pin 106 interfaces to high signal pin 186 on dongle 180. High εignal pin 186 receiveε a power εtatuε εignal from printer 100 when reconfigurable connector 101 iε in the first standard configuration, and receives power from printer 100 when reconfigurable connector 101 is in the second configuration. Ground pins 107 and 109 interface to ground pinε 187 and 189, reεpectively, on dongle 180. In the caεe of a Canon® network dongle, such as dongle 180, ground pin 187 is provided with a predetermined εignal. If dongle 180 were not a Canon® network dongle, ground pin 187 would be connected to ground. In either caεe, ground pin 189 iε connected to ground. Controller 111 configureε reconfigurable connector 101 based on signals received by ground pins 107 and 109 from ground pins 187 and 189 on network dongle 180. In a preferred embodiment, controller 111 compriseε control logic gateε, εuch as "AND" gates, "OR" gates, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, controller lll could comprise a microprocesεor, εuch as an Intel 8086 microprocesεor. Figure 3 alεo εhows power circuitry 120, which includes εwitch 121, reεiεtor 122 and fuεe 124. Power circuitry 120 operateε to configure high εignal pin 106 to provide either power or a power status signal in responεe to a εignal from controller 111. In thiε regard, in the firεt standard configuration, high signal pin 106 is tied to logic high and, when reconfigured into the second configuration, power circuitry 120 permits printer 100 , ε +5V (VCC) power from power line 160 to be passed through to an interfaced device via high εignal pin 106. In a preferred embodiment of the preεent invention, εwitch 121 iε a tranεistor which has a collector an emitter and a base, which acts as a closed circuit when a signal is supplied to the base and which acts as an open circuit when no such signal is supplied. Fuse 124 regulates power from power line 160 when switch 121 is closed in order to prevent power surgeε to high signal pin 106. Preferably, fuse 124 is a temperature-dependent fuse that acts aε an open circuit at high temperatureε and that actε aε a closed circuit at low temperatures. Switch 130, alεo εhown in Figure 3, iε connected to output εignal pin 105 and to printer εignal line 150. The function of εwitch 130 iε to prevent damage to electrical circuity of an unpowered interfaced device. Thiε is accompliεhed by opening εwitch 130, thereby effectively diεabling output εignal pin 105. It iε noted that a εwitch equivalent in both εtructure and function to εwitch 130 is provided for each output signal pin on reconfigurable connector 101 which is identical to output εignal pin 105. In thiε regard, εwitch 130 can be a tri-εtate gate, which controller 111 controlε between a low impedance εtate and a high impedance εtate in which, in the high impedance state, a signal is prevented from being sent via output signal pin 105. Now, a brief explanation will be provided with respect to Figure 3 as to the operation of reconfigurable connector 101. In operation, reconfigurable connector 101 is defaulted to the first εtandard configuration. Likewiεe, all output εignal pins, including output signal pin 105, are disabled and can only be enabled by a signal received from controller lll. Thus, when an interfaced device having a standard parallel interface is connected to reconfigurable connector 101, reconfigurable connector 101 remains in the first standard configuration and output signal pin 105 remains disabled until controller 111 identifies the signalε received by ground pinε 107 and 109 (e.g., 0,0) and enableε output εignal pin 105. Controller 111 enableε output εignal pin 105 by cloεing εwitch 130, εo aε to permit tranεfer of data and control signals from printer 100 to an interfaced device via output signal pin 105. Likewise reconfigurable connector 10l remains in the first standard configuration in which power switch 121 in an open state εo aε to prevent power from, being εupplied through high pin 106 and εo aε to permit tranεfer of a power εtatuε εignal to an interfaced device via high εignal pin 106. In operation with a Canon® network dongle, εuch aε dongle 180, reconfigurable connector 101 iε configured into the second configuration. More εpecifically, when controller 111 detectε a predetermined εignal at ground pin 107, controller 111 cloεeε power εwitch 121 εo as to permit transfer of power to dongle 180 via high εignal pin 106, and after waiting a predetermined period of time, cloεeε εwitch 130 εo aε to permit data and control εignalε to be tranεferred to dongle 180 via output εignal pin 105. The predetermined period of time iε εet εo as to permit VCC power to stabilize upon transfer to dongle 180. A more detailed deεcription of the functionality and operation of the preεent invention will be deεcribed hereinbelow with reεpect to Figureε 3 and 4. Figure 4 iε a flow diagram εhowing the operation of reconfigurable connector 101. In εtep S401, controller 111 determineε that an interfaced device iε connected to reconfigurable connector 101. Controller 111 does this by monitoring ground pins 107 and 109 for either a predetermined signal or a ground connection. Once controller 111 determines that an interfaced device iε connected to reconfigurable connector 101, in εtep S402, controller 111 determineε whether reconfigurable connector 101 εhould be configured. More εpecifically, when controller 111 εenεeε a ground connection at ground pin 107, controller 111 determineε that a εtandard parallel interface connector iε connected to reconfigurable connector 101. In this caεe, since reconfigurable connector 101 iε alwayε defaulted to the firεt εtandard configuration, reconfigurable connector 101 iε not reconfigured. In the firεt εtandard configuration, εwitch 121 iε open. Thuε, in the firεt εtandard configuration, VCC power iε not εupplied to the interfaced device via high εignal pin 106. Rather, aε shown in εtep S404, a power εtatuε εignal iε εupplied to high εignal pin 106 through reεiεtor 122. Thiε power εtatuε εignal indicateε to the interfaced device that printer 100 iε εupplied with power. In εtep S406, output signal pin 105 is enabled, in order to permit transmittal of data and control εignals, by closing switch 130. As described above, when closed, switch 130 permits transfer of data and control εignalε from printer 100 to dongle 180 via output εignal pin 105. If, in εtep S402, controller 111 εenses a predetermined εignal, which iε not a ground connection, at ground pin 107 and ground at ground pin 109, controller 111 determineε that a Canon® network dongle is connected to reconfigurable connector 101. When a Canon® network dongle is connected to reconfigurable connector 101, controller 111 configures reconfigurable connector 101 into the second configuration. More specifically, in step S403, controller 111 cloεeε εwitch 121. Aε εhown in Figure 3, when εwitch 121 iε cloεed, +5V VCC power iε paεεed from high εignal pin 106 to high εignal pin 186 of dongle 180. Thus, in the second configuration, reconfigurable connector 101 passeε power from printer 100 to dongle 180. As a result, dongle 180 no longer requires power from an external power . source. Dongle 180 is therefore free to be installed into any peripheral when equipped with the present invention, regardlesε of the peripherals proximity to a power εource for the dongle. In addition, becauεe the need for an external power source iε eliminated, no power adapter or power cord iε required for dongle 180. Next, in εtep S405, controller 111 waitε a predetermined period of time εo as to permit VCC power to stabilize upon transfer to dongle 180. Following power stabilization, in step S406, controller 111 enables output signal pin 105. Since this εtep iε identical to that deεcribed above, a deεcription of thiε εtep iε omitted here, for the εake of brevity. [Second Embodiment] The εecond embodiment of the present invention iε a reconfigurable connector for a peripheral which has a first εtandard configuration in which data iε εent and received and which haε a εecond configuration in which data is sent and received and in which power is supplied to an interfaced device through a predefined εignal pin on the reconfigurable connector. Included in the reconfigurable connector are an optical senεor which includeε a continuouεly radiating light beam, the optical εenεor sensing a break in the continuouεly radiating light beam cauεed by the interfaced device, and a controller which, in reεponεe to a εenεed break in the continuouεly radiating light beam, alterε a configuration of the reconfigurable connector from the firεt εtandard configuration to the second configuration. In the firεt εtandard configuration, the predefined εignal pin iε configured to provide to the interfaced device a εignal which indicateε that the peripheral device iε supplied with power, and in the εecond configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to supply power to the interfaced device. Figure 5 shows reconfigurable connector 201, which is a second embodiment of the present invention, interfaced to a dongle having diεtal arm 285. All of the featureε of reconfigurable connector 201, except controller 211, are identical in both structure and function to like features εhown in Figure 3. Accordingly, a detailed deεcription thereof iε omitted for the εake of brevity. As shown in Figure 5, reconfigurable connector 201 includes optical circuitry 213. Optical circuitry 213 includes a light emitting circuit element, which is capable of continuouεly radiating a light beam, and an optically-εensitive circuit element which is capable of receiving the radiated light beam. One example of a light emitting circuit element is a light emitting diode (LED) and one example of an optically-sensitive circuit element is a photodiode. Upon being interfaced with a dongle having a distal arm, such as dongle 280 having distal arm 285, but before mating of reconfigurable connector 201 to connector 281, the light beam in optical circuitry 213 is broken by distal arm 285. In reεponεe, optical circuitry 213 outputε a signal to controller 211. Upon receiving the εignal, controller 211 iε informed that dongle 280 is being connected to reconfigurable connector 210. Once controller 211 determines that dongle 280 is being connected to reconfigurable connector 201, controller 211 disableε output signal pin 205 of reconfigurable connector 201. That iε, controller 211 outputε a control εignal to a εwitch (not εhown) which iε εimilar to εwitch 130, discuεεed previouεly, in order to diεable output εignal pin 205. Aε mentioned above with reεpect to the first embodiment, output signal pin 205 is one of a plurality of output εignal pins on reconfigurable connector 201, which are identical in both structure and function to the output signal pins of the first embodiment. After reconfigurable connector 201 mates with connector 281 on dongle 280, controller 211 reconfigures reconfigurable connector 201 to supply power to dongle 280 through a power pin (not shown) , which is identical in both structure and function to power pin 106. Controller 211 also enables output signal pin 205 after a predetermined time so as to permit transfer of data and control signals from printer 200 to dongle 280. Controller 211 does this in the same manner as was described above with respect to the first embodiment, i.e., by closing a switch (or by enabling the tri-state gate) . Thereafter, the function of controller 211 is identical to that of controller 111 deεcribed above. For the εake of brevity, a detailed deεcription of controller 211's functionality is omitted. When an interfaced device which does not have distal arm 280 is connected to reconfigurable connector 210, reconfigurable connector 201 iε not configured into the εecond configuration, εince the light beam in optical circuitry 213 will not be obεtructed. Thus, reconfigurable connector 201 remains in the first standard configuration. It εhould be noted that the εecond embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the foregoing optical system for detecting an interfaced device connected to reconfigurable connector 201. Rather, the second embodiment could be modified εo aε to employ any type of mechanical and/or electro-mechanical or any other feedback as an indication that dongle 280 or its equivalent iε connected to reconfigurable connector 201. The reconfigurable connector of the present invention is described above with respect to a dongle. However, it is noted that the reconfigurable connector of the preεent invention can interface to any type of device which interfaceε to the parallel port of a peripheral, regardleεε of whether the device interfaceε to, or can interface to, a network. Likewiεe, the reconfigurable connector of the preεent invention can have a physical pin arrangement other than that of a εtandard parallel connector, εo long aε the reconfigurable connector includes a pin which can supply power to an interfaced device. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS; 1. A reconfigurable connector for a peripheral device, said reconfigurable connector having a first standard configuration in which data is sent and received and having a second configuration in which data is sent and received and in which power is supplied to an interfaced device through a predefined εignal pin on εaid reconfigurable connector, εaid reconfigurable connector comprising: a senεor which εenεeε a predetermined εignal; and a controller which, in reεponεe to the predetermined εignal, alterε a configuration of εaid reconfigurable connector from the firεt εtandard configuration to the εecond configuration; wherein, when εaid reconfigurable connector iε in the firεt εtandard configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to provide to the interfaced device a signal which indicateε that the peripheral device iε εupplied with power, and wherein, when said reconfigurable connector is in the second configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to supply power to the interfaced device. 2. A reconfigurable connector according to Claim 1, wherein the predetermined εignal comprises an electrical signal received from the interfaced device, and wherein said senεor εenεeε the predetermined εignal when the interfaced device is connected to said reconfigurable connector. 3. A reconfigurable connector according to Claim 1, wherein said controller receives an output signal from said senεor indicating that the predetermined εignal haε been εenεed, and wherein εaid controller reεpondε to the output εignal by causing said reconfigurable connector to be reconfigured from the first εtandard configuration to the εecond configuration. 4. A reconfigurable connector according to Claim 3, wherein εaid controller compriεeε a microproceεεor which monitors said εenεor to determine if the predetermined εignal haε been εenεed and which, in the case that the predetermined signal has been sensed, reconfigures the predefined signal pin so aε to εupply power to the interfaced device. 5. A reconfigurable connector according to Claim 3, further compriεing: a power εwitch, controlled by εaid controller, which εwitches the function of the predefined signal pin from the first standard configuration to the second configuration, wherein, in the firεt standard configuration, εaid power switch is open εo aε to prevent power from paεεing through the predefined εignal pin, and wherein, in the εecond configuration, εaid power switch is cloεed εo as to supply power from the peripheral device to the interfaced device. 6. A reconfigurable connector according to Claim 3, further comprising: signal pins which pasε data between the peripheral device and the interfaced device, wherein εaid εignal pins are maintained in a disabled εtate, and wherein εaid controller enableε εaid εignal pinε after waiting a predetermined period of time when εaid controller determineε that a compatible connector iε connected to εaid reconfigurable connector. 7. A reconfigurable connector for a peripheral device, said reconfigurable connector having a plurality of εignal pinε for transmitting data between the peripheral device and an interfaced device and having a reconfigurable εignal pin, εaid reconfigurable connector compriεing: a plurality of connection pinε, through which the interfaced device transmits predetermined signalε to the peripheral device when the interfaced device is connected to the peripheral device; and a controller which receives the predetermined signals from said plurality of connection pins, and which, in response to the predetermined signalε, alterε a configuration of said reconfigurable εignal pin from a firεt configuration to a εecond configuration, wherein, when in the firεt configuration, the reconfigurable εignal pin εupplieε a signal to the interfaced device indicating that the peripheral device is supplied with power, and, when in the second configuration, εaid reconfigurable εignal pin εupplieε power from the peripheral device to the interfaced device. 8. A reconfigurable connector according to Claim 7, further compriεing: a power switch diεposed between the peripheral device and εaid reconfigurable signal pin and controlled by said controller, wherein, in the first configuration, εaid power εwitch iε open εo aε to prevent power from being supplied to the reconfigurable signal pin, and wherein in the second configuration said power εwitch is closed εo aε to εupply power from the peripheral device to the interfaced device via εaid reconfigurable signal pin. 9. A reconfigurable connector according to Claim 8, wherein said power switch compriεeε a tranεiεtor having a collector, an emitter and a baεe, and wherein εaid controller supplies a control signal to the base of the transistor when said controller receives the predetermined signal so as to permit power to be tranεmitted from the peripheral device acroεs the transistor to the interfaced device. 10. A reconfigurable connector according to Claim 7, wherein the plurality of signal pins are disabled for a predetermined time upon being interfaced to a compatible connector so that electrical signals are prevented from being transmitted via the plurality of εignal pinε, and after the predetermined time, the plurality of εignal pinε are enabled so as to permit electrical signals to be tranεmitted via the plurality of signal pins. 11. A reconfigurable connector according to Claim 10, further comprising: a plurality of switches dispoεed between the peripheral device and the plurality of εignal pinε, and controlled by εaid controller, wherein, upon being interfaced with the compatible connector, εaid plurality of switches are open for a predetermined time so as to prevent electrical signals from being transmitted via the plurality of signal pins, and after the predetermined time, said plurality of switches are closed εo aε to permit electrical εignals to be transmitted via the plurality of signal pins. 12. A reconfigurable connector for a peripheral device, said reconfigurable connector having a firεt εtandard configuration in which data iε εent and received and having a εecond configuration in which data iε εent and received and in which power iε εupplied to an interfaced device through a predefined εignal pin on εaid reconfigurable connector, εaid reconfigurable connector compriεing: an optical εenεor which includeε a continuouεly radiating light beam, said optical sensor sensing a break in the continuously radiating light beam caused by the interfaced device; and a controller which, in responεe to a εenεed break in the continuously radiating light beam, alters a configuration of εaid reconfigurable connector from the firεt εtandard configuration to the εecond configuration; wherein, when said reconfigurable connector iε in the firεt standard configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to provide to the interfaced device a εignal which indicates that the peripheral device is εupplied.with power, and wherein, when εaid reconfigurable connector iε in the εecond configuration, the predefined εignal pin iε configured to supply power to the interfaced device. 13. A printer having a reconfigurable connector compriεing: a printer engine for generating imageε baεed on print data received by εaid reconfigurable connector; a parallel port connector having a plurality of εignal pinε through which print data iε received from an interfaced device, a predefined εignal pin which εignalε to the interfaced device that the printer iε εupplied with power, and at leaεt two εtandard isolated ground pins which ground the parallel port connector with the interfaced device; a sensor connected to said at leaεt two εtandard iεolated ground pinε for εenεing a predetermined εignal received by εaid at leaεt two εtandard iεolated ground pins; a controller which, in reεponεe to receipt of the predetermined signal, outputs a control signal to configure εaid predefined εignal pin from a firεt standard configuration to a second configuration; and a power switch which switcheε the predefined εignal pin from the firεt εtandard configuration to the second configuration upon receiving the control signal from εaid controller, wherein, when said reconfigurable connector is in the first standard configuration, the predefined εignal pin iε configured to provide to the interfaced device a signal which indicates that the peripheral device is supplied with power, and wherein, when said reconfigurable connector is in the second configuration, the predefined signal pin is configured to supply power to the interfaced device; and wherein, when in the first εtandard configuration, the power εwitch iε open so as to prevent power from passing through the predefined signal pin, and, when in the εecond configuration, the power εwitch is closed so aε to εupply power from the printer to the interfaced device. 14. A printer according to Claim 13, wherein εaid parallel port connector compriεes a standard Centronics connector.

Inventors: OKTAY OSMAN OZAY, OKTAY, OSMAN, OZAY
Applicants: CANON INFORMATION SYST INC, CANON INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H01H47
IPC codes: G06F1, G06F3, H01R13, H01R29