Patent Publication Number: US-2023153257-A1

Title: All-in-one computers

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     An All-In-One (AIO) computer integrates the computer’s internal components (e.g., central processing unit, memory, etc.) into the same case as the display. An AIO computer may include Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports to connect a keyboard, mouse, and/or other input/output devices to the AIO computer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating one example of an All-In-One (AIO) computer. 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram illustrating another example of an AIO computer. 
         FIG.  3    is a block diagram illustrating another example of an AIO computer. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating one example of an on screen display menu. 
         FIG.  5    is a block diagram illustrating one example of a system including an AIO computer. 
         FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  are flow diagrams illustrating one example of a method for utilizing an AIO computer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims. It is to be understood that features of the various examples described herein may be combined, in part or whole, with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise. 
     An All-In-One (AIO) computer may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C input port to provide video in to extend and/or clone an external host display for an external host coupled to the USB Type-C input port. An AIO computer may also include USB Type-A ports to connect a keyboard, mouse, and/or other input/output devices to the AIO computer. The USB Type-A ports, however, may not be available to an external host coupled to the USB Type-C input port. In addition, the life of the display of an AIO computer and peripheral devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, and/or other input/output devices used with the AIO computer may be longer than the life of the processing components (e.g., central processing unit, memory, etc.) of the AIO computer. Replacing the entire AIO computer once the processing components have reached their end of life while the display and peripheral devices may still have some remaining life may be cost prohibitive. In addition, by enabling the display and peripheral devices of an AIO computer to be utilized by an external host, the versatility of the AIO computer is improved. Accordingly, disclosed herein is an AIO computer where the display and the USB Type-A ports of the AIO computer may be shared by an external host. 
     The AIO computers disclosed herein include a display, a USB Type-C port, and USB Type-A ports. When a computing device, such as a notebook computer, tablet, or cellular phone is connected to the USB Type-C port, the display of the AIO computer may be used as a display for the computing device and the USB Type-A ports may be used as USB ports for the computing device. Therefore, a keyboard, mouse and/or other input/output devices connected to the USB Type-A ports of the AIO computer may be used as input/output devices of the computing device connected to the USB Type-C port. When a computing device is not connected to the USB Type-C port, the USB Type-C port may act as a USB input/output port. 
       FIG.  1    is a block diagram illustrating one example of an AIO computer  100 . AIO computer  100  includes a display  102 , a USB Type-C port  104 , and a plurality of USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N , where “N” is any suitable number of USB Type-A ports (e.g., 2-4 ports). AIO computer  100  also includes a USB hub  108 , a demultiplexer  110 , and a Power Delivery (PD) controller  112 . The USB hub  108  is communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N  through communication paths  126   1  to  126   N , respectively. The demultiplexer  110  is communicatively coupled to the display  102  through a communication path  122 , the USB Type-C port  104  through communication paths  124  and  125 , and the USB hub  108  through a communication path  128 . The PD controller  112  is communicatively coupled to the demultiplexer  110  through a communication path  132 , the USB Type-C port  104  through communication paths  134  and  135 , and the USB hub  108  through a communication path  138 . 
     The display  102  may include a liquid crystal display or another suitable display. In one example, the communication path  122  is a DisplayPort interface or another suitable interface for passing a display signal from the demultiplexer  110  to the display  102 . In one example, the communication path  124  is a DisplayPort interface for passing a display signal from the USB Type-C port  104  to the demultiplexer  110 . In one example, the communications paths  126   1  to  126   N  are USB interfaces for passing USB signals between each of the plurality of USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N  and the USB hub  108 . In addition, in one example, the communication path  128  and the communication path  125  are also USB interfaces for passing USB signals between the USB hub  108  and the USB Type-C port  104 . 
     The PD controller  112  controls the demultiplexer  110  and the USB hub  108  to pass a display signal input to the USB Type-C port  104  to the display  102  and pass signals input to the USB hub  108  from the plurality of USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N  to the USB Type-C port  104  with a computing device coupled to the USB Type-C port  104 . In one example, the PD controller  112  detects the computing device when the computing device is coupled to the USB Type-C port  104 . The computing device may include a computer, a tablet, a cellular phone, or another suitable computing device. In one example, the PD controller  112  is coupled to the USB Type-C port  104  via a VBUS signal path  134  and configuration channel (e.g., CC1/CC2) signal paths  135 . In this example, the PD controller  112  may supply power to the USB Type-C port  104  through VBUS  134  and detect when a computing device is connected to the USB Type-C port  104  through the configuration channel signal paths  135 . 
     In one example, the PD controller  112  is coupled to the demultiplexer  110  through a first I2C interface  132  and to the USB hub  108  through a second I2C interface  138 . The PD controller  112  controls the states of the demultiplexer  110  and the USB hub  108  via control signals passed through the first I2C interface  132  and the second I2C interface  138 , respectively. The PD controller  112  selectively controls demultiplexer  110  to connect the DisplayPort interface  124  to the DisplayPort interface  122  in response to a computing device being connected to the USB Type-C port  104 . In this way, a display signal from the computing device connected to the USB Type-C port  104  is displayed on the display  102 . The PD controller  112  also selectively controls the demultiplexer  110  and the USB hub  108  to connect the USB interface  125  to the USB interface  128  in response to a computing device being connected to the USB Type-C port  104 . In this way, input/output devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, etc.) connected to the USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N  may provide input/output for the computing device connected to the USB Type-C port  104 . 
       FIG.  2    is a block diagram illustrating another example of an AIO computer  200 . AIO computer  200  is similar to AIO computer  100  previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG.  1   , except that AIO computer  200  includes a display controller  202  and a Central Processing Unit (CPU)  204 . The display controller  202  is communicatively coupled to the demultiplexer  110  through the communication path  122  and to the display  102  through a communication path  206 . The CPU  204  is communicatively coupled to the display controller  202  through a communication path  208 . In one example, display controller  202  is communicatively coupled to the demultiplexer  110  through the DisplayPort interface  122  and communicatively coupled to the display  102  through a Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) interface  206 . In one example, the CPU  204  is communicatively coupled to the display controller  202  through a DisplayPort interface  208 . 
     The display controller  202  controls the display  102  by converting a display signal (e.g., a DisplayPort signal) to a signal suitable for controlling display  102  (e.g., a LVDS signal). The CPU  204  controls the processing operations of the AIO computer  200 . Display controller  202  passes the display signal input to the USB Type-C port  104  to the display  102  with the CPU  204  in a sleep state (e.g., a low power state) and a display signal from the CPU  204  to the display  102  with the CPU  204  in a working state (e.g., a full power state). In one example, display controller  202  is controlled by PD controller  112  to selectively pass the display signal input to the USB Type-C port  104  to the display  102 . 
       FIG.  3    is a block diagram illustrating another example of an AIO computer  300 . AIO computer  300  is similar to AIO computer  200  previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG.  2   , except that AIO computer  300  includes a Platform Controller Hub (PCH)  302 . The PCH  302  is communicatively coupled to the USB hub  108  through a communication path  304 . In one example, the communication path  304  is a USB interface to pass USB signals between the PCH  302  and the USB hub  108 . The PCH  302  may control certain data paths and support functions of the AIO computer  300  and is used in conjunction with the CPU  204 . 
     The USB hub  108  passes the signals input to the USB hub from the USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N  to the USB Type-C port  104  with the PCH  302  in a sleep state (e.g., a low power state) and to the PCH  302  with the PCH in a working state (e.g., a full power state). In one example, the USB hub  108  is controlled by the PD controller  112  to selectively pass the USB signals from the USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N  to either demultiplexer  110  through the USB interface  128  or to the PCH  302  through the USB interface  304 . 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram illustrating one example of an on screen display menu  400 . The PD controller  112  may initiate the on screen display menu  400  on the display  102  for selecting a USB host mode in response to detecting a computing device connected to the USB Type-C port  104 . In one example, the PD controller  112  initiates the on screen display menu  400  via the display controller  202 . The on screen display menu  400  may include an auto option  402 , a USB-C host option  404 , and a USB 3.0 host option  406 . The on screen display menu  400  may also include a help function, a cancel function, and a save and return function. 
     In response to the auto option  402  being selected (which is indicated in  FIG.  4   ), the USB upstream host is automatically selected based on the USB upstream host that is connected first. For example, if the AIO computer’s CPU  204  and PCH  302  are in a working state, the USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N  communicate with the CPU  204  and PCH  302  even if a computing device is subsequently connected to the USB Type-C port  104 . If the AIO computer’s CPU  204  and PCH  302  are in a sleep state or transition to a sleep state and a computing device is connected to the USB Type-C port  104 , the USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N  communicate with the computing device. If the first host drops the connection, then the next active host is selected. 
     In response to the USB-C host option  404  being selected, the USB Type-C port (and host) is the active stream (e.g., the computing device coupled to the USB Type-C port  104  communicates with the USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N ). In response to the USB 3.0 host option  406  being selected, the USB 3.0 port (and host) is the active stream (e.g., the AIO computer’s CPU  204  and PCH  302  communicates with the USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N ). In one example, the on screen display menu  400  may provide a warning message prior to switching between USB upstream ports to prevent data loss. In this case, the on screen display menu  400  may also include a confirmation selection for the user to confirm the change prior to switching between USB upstream ports. In response to a selection of an option in the on screen display menu  400 , the display controller  202  may pass an indication of the selection to the PD controller  112  (e.g., by toggling a General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pin of the PD controller  112 ) to implement the selection. 
       FIG.  5    is a block diagram illustrating one example of a system  500  including an AIO computer  100  as previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG.  1   . In other examples, system  500  includes an AIO computer  200  as previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG.  2    or an AIO computer  300  as previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIG.  3   . System  500  also includes a computing device  502 , a keyboard  504 , and a mouse  506 . The computing device  502  is communicatively coupled to the USB Type-C port  104  through a communication path  508 . The computing device  502  may be a computer, a tablet, a cellular phone, or another suitable computing device. The keyboard  504  is communicatively coupled to a first USB Type-A port  106   1  through a communication path  126   1 . The mouse  506  is communicatively coupled to a second USB Type-A port  106   2  through a communication path  126   2 . In other examples, other input and/or output devices may be coupled to the USB Type-A port  106   1  and  106   2 . 
     With the computing device  502  connected to the USB-Type C port  104 , the display  102  of the AIO computer  100  may be controlled by the computing device  502 . In addition, the keyboard  504  and the mouse  506  may be used to control the computing device  502 . The AIO computer  100  may provide a larger or a second display for the computing device  502 . The keyboard  504  may provide a keyboard for a computing device that does not include a keyboard (e.g., for a tablet or cellular phone) or a larger or more ergonomic keyboard (e.g., for a notebook computer) for the computing device  502 . The mouse  506  may provide a mouse for a computing device that does not include a mouse (e.g., for a tablet or cellular phone) or a larger or more ergonomic mouse (e.g., for a notebook computer) for the computing device  502 . In this way, the versatility of AIO computer  100  is improved compared to an AIO computer in which a computing device  502  cannot utilize the USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N . 
       FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  are flow diagrams illustrating one example of a method  600  for utilizing an AIO computer, such as AIO computer  100 ,  200 , or  300  previously described and illustrated with reference to  FIGS.  1 - 3   , respectively. As illustrated in  FIG.  6 A  at  602 , method  600  includes detecting a computing device connected to a Universal serial Bus (USB) Type-C port of the all-in-one computer. For example, as illustrated in  FIG.  5   , a computing device  502  may be detected by the AIO computer  100  when the computing device  502  is connected to the USB Type-C port  104  through the communication path  508 . 
     At  604 , method  600  includes passing a display signal from the computing device to a display of the all-in-one computer and connecting USB Type-A ports of the all-in-one computer to the computing device through the USB Type-C port of the all-in-one computer. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  5   , demultiplexer  110  may pass a display signal from the computing device  502  to the display  102  and connect the USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N  to the computing device  502  through the USB Type-C port  104 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  6 B  at  606 , method  600  may further include in response to a central processing unit of the all-in-one computer being in a sleep state, passing the display signal from the computing device to the display of the all-in-one computer and connecting the USB Type-A ports of the all-in-one computer to the computing device through the USB Type-C port of the all-in-one computer. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS.  2  and  5   , in response to the central processing unit  204  being in a sleep state, passing the display signal from the computing device  502  to the display  102  and connecting the USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N  to the computing device  502  through the USB Type-C port  104 . 
     At  608 , method  600  may further include in response to the central processing unit of the all-in-one computer being in a working state, initiating an on screen display menu on the display of the all-in-one computer for selecting a USB host mode. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS.  2 ,  4 , and  5   , in response to the central processing unit  204  being in a working state, initiating the on screen display menu  400  for selecting a USB host mode. 
     At  610 , method  600  may further include in response to a first USB host mode being selected, passing the display signal from the computing device to the display of the all-in-one computer and connecting the USB Type-A ports of the all-in-one computer to the computing device through the USB Type-C port of the all-in-one computer. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS.  2 ,  4 , and  5   , in response to the USB-C host option  404  being selected, passing the display signal from the computing device  502  to the display  102  and connecting the USB Type-A ports  106   1  to  106   N  to the computing device  502  through the USB Type-C port  104 . 
     Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific examples shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific examples discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.