Patent Publication Number: US-2019171603-A1

Title: Extended and expanded usb 3.1 hub

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 106217958, filed Dec. 1, 2017, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to an extended and expanded HUB. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With the development of science and technology, the universal serial bus (USB) has been widely used in the computer industry. The universal serial bus can be connected between a host and an electronic device, which is used for data exchange between the host and the electronic device. 
     The universal serial bus has developed from the past USB 2.0, USB 3.0 (also named USB 3.1 Gen 1) to the newer USB 3.1 Gen 2. Furthermore, a new USB Type-C connector can provide more and more functions. In addition to the data transmission function, the USB Type-C connector also has a power delivery (PD) function, but currently the USB 3.1 Type-C standard transmission cable on the market is generally less than 1.5M in length. According to the USB Type-C Specification published by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the length of the USB 3.1 Type-C to Type-C transmission cable is less than or equal to 2M. However, such a length cannot meet a long distance transmission requirement. How to extend the transmission distance of USB 3.1 will be a problem faced by those skilled in the art. 
     Therefore, there is a need to extend the USB 3.1 transmission distance so as to further increase the user&#39;s convenience in using the USB device. 
     SUMMARY 
     One objective of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub so as to increase the USB signal transmission capability. 
     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the objective of the embodiments of the present invention, as the embodiment broadly describes herein, the embodiments of the present invention provides an extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub includes a housing, a signal transmission module installed in the housing, a first connector installed on the housing to electrically connect to the signal transmission module, and a second connector installed on the housing to electrically connect to the signal transmission module. The second connector is used for connecting an electronic device, and the first connector and the second connector are Type-C connectors. 
     In one embodiment, the first connector and the second connector are USB 3.1 Type-C connectors. 
     In one embodiment, the signal transmission module includes a multiplexer (MUX) electrically connecting to the first connector, a signal transmission chip electrically connecting to the multiplexer, and a switching regulator electrically connecting to the signal transmission chip and the multiplexer. In addition, the multiplexer is a multiplexer with configuration channel logic (CCL) control. 
     In one embodiment, the signal transmission chip includes an upstream facing port, a USB 2.0 hub circuit electrically connecting to the upstream facing port, a controller electrically connecting to the USB 2.0 hub circuit, a USB 3.1 hub circuit electrically connecting to the controller and the upstream facing port, a first downstream facing port electrically connecting to the USB 2.0 hub circuit and the USB 3.1 hub circuit, and a second downstream facing port electrically connecting to the USB 2.0 hub circuit and the USB 3.1 hub circuit. 
     In addition, the first connector and the second connector respectively comprise A1-A12 pins and B1-B12 pins. 
     In one embodiment, the A4, A9, B4 and B9 pins of the first connector electrically connect to the A4, A9, B4 and B9 pins of the second connector, and further electrically connect to the switching regulator. 
     In one embodiment, the A5 and B5 pins of the first connector electrically connects to the multiplexer. 
     In one embodiment, the A2 and A3 pins of the first connector electrically connect to the multiplexer and the B2 and B3 pins of the first connector electrically connect to the multiplexer to communicate with SSTX0 pins of the upstream facing port through the multiplexer, and the B11 and B10 pins of the first connector electrically connect to the multiplexer and the A11 and A10 pins of the first connector electrically connect to the multiplexer to communicate with SSRX0 pins of the upstream facing port through the multiplexer. 
     In one embodiment, the A2 and A3 pins of the second connector electrically connect to SSTX1 pins of the first downstream facing port, the B11 and B10 pins of the second connector electrically connect to SSRX1 pins of the first downstream facing port, the B2 and B3 pins of the second connector electrically connect to SSTX2 pins of the second downstream facing port, and the A11 and A10 pins of the second connector electrically connect to SSRX2 pins of the second downstream facing port. 
     In one embodiment, the A6 pin of the first connector electrically connects to the B6 pin of the first connector and further electrically connects to a D0+ pin of the upstream facing port, the A7 pin of the first connector electrically connects to the B7 pin of the first connector and further electrically connects to a D0− pin of the upstream facing port, the A6 pin of the second connector electrically connects to a D1+ pin of the first downstream facing port, the A7 pin of the second connector electrically connects to a D1− pin of the first downstream facing port, the B6 pin of the second connector electrically connects to a D2+ pin of the second downstream facing port, and the B7 pin of the second connector electrically connects to a D2− pin of the second downstream facing port. 
     Accordingly, the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub can facilitate a user to transfer the USB signal transmission, and the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub can be operated with the power of the USB itself without an additional external power supply. At the same time, with the configuration of two downstream ports, data transmission of two USB components of an electronic device can be simultaneously performed, a power required for the electronic device can also be provided by the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub, and therefore the electronic USB device can be operated more convenient. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic perspective diagram showing an extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic circuit diagram showing an extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the present disclosure. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined by referencing the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic perspective diagram showing an extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub according to one embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic circuit diagram thereof. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub  100  includes a housing  110 , a first connector  120 , a second connector  130  and a signal transmission module  140 . 
     The first connector  120  and the second connector  130  are both installed on the housing  110 , and electrically connect to the signal transmission module  140 . In addition, the signal transmission module  140  is installed in the housing  110  to rectify and extend USB signals. 
     In one embodiment, the first connector  120  is a USB 3.1 Type-C connector. For example, the first connector  120  is located at an upstream port of the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub  100  and is a connector for connecting a host, e.g. a host computer. In addition, the second connector  130  is also a USB 3.1 Type-C and is located at a downstream port of the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub  100 . The second connector  130  is a connector for connecting an electronic device, e.g. a camera or a hard disk. 
     Simultaneously referring to  FIG. 2 , the signal transmission module  140  includes a multiplexer (MUX)  150 , a signal transmission chip  160  and a switching regulator  170 . The multiplexer  150  electrically connects to the first connector  120 , and the signal transmission chip  160  electrically connects to the multiplexer  150 . In addition, the switching regulator  170  electrically connects to the signal transmission chip  160  and the multiplexer  150  to provide the required power for the signal transmission chip  160  and the multiplexer  150 . In one embodiment, the multiplexer  150  is, for example, a multiplexer with configuration channel logic (CCL) control. 
     The signal transmission chip  160  of the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub  100  further comprises an upstream facing port (UFP)  161 , a USB 2.0 hub circuit  164 , a controller  165 , a USB 3.1 hub circuit  166 , a first downstream facing port (DFP)  162  and a second downstream facing port (DFP)  163 . 
     The USB 2.0 hub circuit  164  is located between the upstream facing port  161 , the first downstream facing port  162  and the second downstream facing port  163  to electrically connect to the upstream facing port  161 , the first downstream facing port  162  and the second downstream facing port  163 . 
     The USB 3.1 hub circuit  166  is also located between the upstream facing port  161 , the first downstream facing port  162  and the second downstream facing port  163  to electrically connect to the upstream facing port  161 , the first downstream facing port  162  and the second downstream facing port  163 . The controller  165  is, for example, a Micro-controller Unit (MCU) to electrically connect to the USB 2.0 hub circuit  164  and the USB 3.1 hub circuit  166 , and controls the USB 2.0 hub circuit  164  and the USB 3.1 hub circuit  166  to allow an electronic device regardless of a USB 2.0 device or a USB 3.1 device communicating with a computer connected to the first connector  120  of the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub  100 . 
     In one embodiment, the USB device connected to the second connector  130  can be an electronic USB 3.1 Gen 2 device with 10 Gbps (gigabit per second) transmission rate. 
     In one embodiment, the USB device connected to the second connector  130  can be an electronic USB device having a USB 3.1 Gen 1 component with 5 Gbps transmission rate and a USB 3.1 Gen 2 component with 10 Gbps transmission rate. 
     In one embodiment, the USB device connected to the second connector  130  can be an electronic USB device having two USB 3.1 Gen 1 components with 5 Gbps transmission rate. 
     In one embodiment, the USB device connected to the second connector  130  can be an electronic USB device having two USB 3.2 Gen 1 components with 10 Gbps transmission rate. 
     The USB device connected to the second connector  130  can be an electronic USB device having two USB components with same transmission rates or different transmission rates in one electronic device without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     In addition, the computer connected to the first connector  120  is a computer with at least one USB 3.1 port. 
     The first connector  120  and the second connector  130  respectively include A1-A12 pins and B1-B12 pins. 
     The A4, A9, B4 and B9 pins of the first connector  120  electrically connect to the A4, A9, B4 and B9 pins of the second connector  130 , and further electrically connect to the switching regulator  170 . Therefore, the switching regulator  170  can get the power form the A4, A9, B4 and B9 pins and supply a desired power, e.g. 3.3V or 5V power, to the signal transmission chip  160  and the multiplexer  150 . The extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub  100  can be operated with the USB power from the computer to rectify the USB signals for extending the signal transmission distance without any other additional power supply. Therefore, the transmission distance of the USB signals can effectively be increased. 
     In addition, the A5 pin and B5 pin of the first connector  120  electrically connect to the multiplexer  150 . Therefore, after a host computer is connected to the first connector  120  and the electronic device is connected to the second connector  130 , the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub  100  can recognize the host computer and the electronic device according to the UCC1 and UCC2 signals and further control the multiplexer  150  to adjust the transmission path thereof. In addition, the A5 pin and B5 pin of the second connector  130  electrically connect to the multiplexer  150  and transmit the DCC1 and DCC2 signals therebetween. Therefore, the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub  100  can directly deliver the power from the provider side to the consumer side. 
     Furthermore, the A2 and A3 pins of the first connector  120  electrically connect to the multiplexer  150 , the B2 and B3 pins of the first connector  120  electrically connect to the multiplexer  150  to transmit the data through SSTX0 pins of the upstream facing port  161 , and switch the signal transmission path with the multiplexer  150 . 
     In addition, the B11 and B10 pins of the first connector  120  electrically connect to the multiplexer  150 , and the A11 and A10 pins of the first connector  120  electrically connect to the multiplexer  150  to transmit the data with SSRX0 pins of the upstream facing port  161  and the multiplexer  150 , and switch the signal transmission path with the multiplexer  150 . 
     Further describing the circuit configuration of the second connector  130 , the A2 and A3 pins of the second connector  130  electrically connect to SSTX1 pins of the first downstream facing port  162 , the B11 and B10 pins of the second connector  130  electrically connect to SSRX1 pins of the first downstream facing port  162 , the B2 and B3 pins of the second connector  130  electrically connect to SSTX2 pins of the second downstream facing port  163 , and the A11 and A10 pins of the second connector  130  electrically connect to SSRX2 pins of the second downstream facing port  163 . Therefore, with the configuration of the first downstream facing port  162  and the second downstream facing port  163 , a USB cable can simultaneously connect to two USB components of an electronic device and perform the data transmission. That is, two hard disks in an external hard disk device, can simultaneously use a single USB cable to connect to the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub  100 , and the data thereof is transmitted to the host computer so as to effectively increase the data transmission efficiency of the electronic USB device. 
     In addition, because the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub  100  is also compatible with USB 2.0 electronic devices, the A6 pin of the first connector  120  electrically connects to the B6 pin of the first connector  120  and further electrically connects to the D0+ pin of the upstream facing port  161 , the A7 pin of the first connector  120  electrically connects to the B7 pin of the first connector  120  and electrically connects to the D0− pin of the upstream facing port  161 , the A6 pin of the second connector  130  connects to the D1+ pin of the first downstream facing port  162 , the A7 pin of the second connector  130  electrically connects to the D1− pin of the first downstream facing port  162 , the B6 pin of the second connector  130  electrically connects to the D2+ pin of the second downstream facing port  163 , and the B7 pin of the second connector  130  electrically connects to the D2− pin of the second downstream facing port  163 . Therefore, the first downstream facing port  162  and the second downstream facing port  163  of the extendable and expanded USB 3.1 hub  100  can also connect to two USB 2.0 components of an electronic device for signal transmission at the same time. 
     In addition, the A1, B1, A12, B12 pins of the first connector  120  are ground pins, and are connected to the A1, B1, A12, and B12 pins of the second connector  130 . 
     Accordingly, the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub can facilitate a user to transfer the USB signal transmission, and the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub can be operated with the power of the USB itself without an additional external power supply. At the same time, with the configuration of two downstream ports, data transmission of two USB components of an electronic device can be simultaneously performed, a power required for the electronic device can also be provided by the extended and expanded USB 3.1 hub, and therefore the electronic USB device can be operated more convenient. 
     As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended that various modifications and similar arrangements be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.