Patent Description:
For the purposes of clearly, concisely and exactly describing example embodiments of the present disclosure, the manner and process of making and using the same, and to enable the practice, making and use of the same, reference will now be made to certain example embodiments, including those illustrated in the figures, and specific language will be used to describe the same.

The invention is as defined in the independent claims <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are set out by the dependent claims. embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.

With reference to <FIG>, there is illustrated a functional block diagram of an example system <NUM> including a host device <NUM> operatively coupled with a peripheral device <NUM> via a cable <NUM> which is plugged into a connector port <NUM> of the host device <NUM>. The connector port <NUM> is configured to be selectably coupled to and decoupled from peripheral device <NUM> and to provide data communication with and power supply to the peripheral device <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, peripheral device <NUM> is configured as a peripheral wireless communication module configured for wireless communication with one or more remote devices or networks, wired communication with host device <NUM> via cable <NUM>, and to receive DC power from the host device <NUM> via cable <NUM>. In other embodiments, peripheral device <NUM> may be another type of peripheral device configured for wired communication with host device <NUM> via cable <NUM>, and to receive DC power from the host device <NUM> via cable <NUM>. It shall be appreciated that the power connection from a host device according to the present disclosure, such as host device <NUM>, may deliver higher voltages and power than a typical USB communication interface and can be utilized to provide alternative supply voltages to a peripheral device greater than those of a typical USB communication interface. In one example application, a +24VDC power supply is provided from a host device to a peripheral device via cabling of such a length that lower voltages such as those of a typical USB communication interface are unsuitable due to voltage drop along the length of the cabling.

Host device <NUM> includes a connector port <NUM>, a data signal switch <NUM>, a peripheral device presence detector <NUM> (hereinafter detector <NUM>), a DC power switch <NUM> (hereinafter power switch <NUM>), and a microcontroller or computer board <NUM> (hereinafter board <NUM>). In the illustrated embodiment, host device <NUM> is configured as an equipment control and monitoring device configured to be operatively coupled with a power grid infrastructure device such as a transformer. In other embodiments, host device <NUM> may be another type of computing device or single-board computer.

Power switch to <NUM> is operatively coupled with connector port <NUM> by power line <NUM>. The power switch <NUM> is also coupled with power supply <NUM> and detector <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, power supply <NUM> is configured as a +24VDC power supply. In other embodiments, power supply <NUM> may be configured to provide other voltages such as those disclosed herein. Power switch <NUM> is operable to selectively switch the supply of DC power to connector port <NUM> on and off in response to one or more inputs received from detector <NUM> via line <NUM>.

Data signal switch <NUM> is operatively coupled with connector port <NUM> via data signal lines <NUM> and is operatively coupled with data port <NUM> of board <NUM> via data signal and power lines <NUM>. Data signal switch <NUM> is operable to selectively enable and disable data communication between connector port <NUM> and board <NUM> in response to one or more inputs received from detector <NUM> via line <NUM>. The detector <NUM> is operatively coupled with the connector port <NUM> via line <NUM> and is optionally operatively connected with the digital input <NUM> of board <NUM> via line <NUM> and is operable to detect the presence or absence of a peripheral device connected to connector port <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, there is illustrated a schematic diagram of example circuitry <NUM> illustrating certain aspects of an example implementation of system <NUM>. Circuitry <NUM> includes connector port <NUM> which is configured to be selectably coupled to and decoupled from a peripheral device, such as peripheral device <NUM> or another peripheral device, and to provide data communication with and power supply to the peripheral device. In the illustrated embodiment, connector port <NUM> is configured as a six-pin USB-type connector port including a peripheral detection pin <NUM>, data pins <NUM> and <NUM>, a power supply pin <NUM>, and ground pins <NUM> and <NUM>. It shall be appreciated that connector port <NUM> may be provided in a variety of other forms including forms with a different number of peripheral detection pins, data pins, power supply pins, and ground pins. In the illustrated embodiment, power supply pin <NUM> is selectably operably coupled with a +24VDC power supply as further described herein. It shall be appreciated that power supply pin <NUM> may be provided in a variety of other forms selectably operably coupled with a power supply at a lesser voltage (e.g., 12VDC) or a greater voltage (e.g., 48VDC).

Peripheral detection pin <NUM> is connected to the negative input pin of comparator <NUM> via positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device PTC1 which provides overcurrent protection and a resistor R14. Capacitor C15 and resistor R12 are connected to the power supply <NUM> and to the negative input pin of comparator <NUM>. Resistor R11 is connected to the power supply <NUM> and via resistor R17 to the gate of power MOSFET Q1. It shall be appreciated that power MOSFET Q1 is one non-limiting example of a DC power switch component and that a variety of other switching devices may be utilized in other embodiments, for example, other types of solid-state switching devices or other types of switches or switching devices. Furthermore, it shall be appreciated that comparator <NUM> is one non-limiting example of a detector component and that a variety of other detector components or combinations of detector components may be utilized in other embodiments, for example, other types of logic, switching, signal processing devices, or other solid-state devices. In some forms, comparator <NUM> implemented as a discrete integrated circuit chip. In other forms, comparator <NUM> may be implemented using a plurality of components or a subset of a more signal processing circuitry.

Data pin <NUM> is coupled with input/output pins I/O1 and I/O4 of small outline transistor transient voltage suppressor (TVS) U2 and to common mode choke L4. Data pin <NUM> is coupled input/output pins I/O2 and I/O3 of TVS U2 and to common mode choke L4. Capacitor C36 is coupled across data pin <NUM> and data pin <NUM>. Power supply pin <NUM> is coupled to the drain pin of power MOSFET Q1 via PTC device PTC6 and ferrite bead FB6. Ground pins <NUM> and <NUM> are coupled to ground and to the ground pin of TVS U2 via PTC device PTC2. Data pin <NUM> and data pin <NUM> are configured to receive and transmit negative USB data signal USBDN and positive USB data signal USBDP, respectively.

Common mode choke L4 is coupled with pins D+ and D- of USB signal switch <NUM>. It shall be appreciated that USB signal switch <NUM> is one example implementation of a data signal switch such as data signal switch <NUM>. In other embodiments, various other types of data signal switching devices or combinations of devices may be utilized as would occur to one of skill in the art with the benefit of the present disclosure. Ground pins GND of USB signal switch <NUM> are coupled to ground. USB signal switch <NUM> further includes pin D1+ which is coupled with ground via resistor R9, and pin D1- which is coupled with ground via resistor R10. Additionally, capacitor C2 is coupled between pin D+ and ground, and capacitor C11 is coupled between pin D- and ground.

The VCC pins of USB signal switch <NUM> are coupled with pin <NUM> of connector port <NUM>. Pins S1 and S2 of USB signal switch <NUM> are coupled with pin <NUM> of connector port <NUM> via resistor R8. Pin D2+ of USB signal switch <NUM> is coupled with pin <NUM> of connector port <NUM>. Pin D2- of USB signal switch <NUM> is coupled with pin <NUM> of connector port <NUM>. Pin <NUM> of connector port <NUM> is coupled with ground. Capacitor C13 is coupled to ground at one pole and to pin <NUM> and pin D2- at the other pole. Capacitor C12 is coupled to ground at one pole and to pin <NUM> and pin D2+ at the other pole. Connector port <NUM> is also operatively coupled with a microcontroller or computer board such as board <NUM>.

When the negative input of the comparator <NUM> is at a greater voltage than the positive input of the comparator <NUM>, the output of comparator <NUM> output is driven to a low state (e.g., <NUM> to +<NUM>. When the positive input of comparator <NUM> is greater than its negative input, the output of comparator <NUM> is high-impedance and does not control the output level of the comparator <NUM>. Instead, resistor R13 pulls the signal at the output of the comparator up to the +24VDC level of power supply <NUM>.

Connecting a compatible peripheral device to connector port <NUM> establishes a connection between pin <NUM> and ground. This connection may be provided, for example, via an internal resistance in a connecting cable or the peripheral device connected to pin <NUM> and pin <NUM> of connector port <NUM> of sufficiently low impedance (e.g., 1Kohm). In response to the connection of a compatible peripheral device, capacitor C15 discharges through resistor R14 and PTC device PTC1 causing the voltage at the negative pin of comparator <NUM> to decay from 24VDC to around 12VDC at a rate corresponding to the resistive-capacitive (RC) time constant established by resistor R14 and capacitor C15. The positive pin of comparator <NUM> is nominally at or about around 18VDC due to its connection to voltage supply <NUM> via resistor R15 and to ground via resistor R16. The comparator <NUM> is optionally and preferably provided with a hysteresis to provide stability. Thus, as the voltage at the negative input to comparator <NUM> decreases to a sufficiently low level to overcome the hysteresis (e.g., at or about 16VDC), the open-drain output of the comparator <NUM> changes from an actively driven low voltage output (established by the voltage drop from power supply <NUM> across resistor R13) to a higher voltage output (established by the open-drain output of comparator <NUM> being pulled to a higher voltage via resistor R13 in response to the voltage change at its negative input).

Reversed-biased dual common cathode Schottky diode D1 is coupled on its cathode side with the open-drain output of the comparator <NUM> and on its anode side with pins S1 and S2 of the USB signal switch <NUM> and with the gate of transistor Q2. If the cathode of diode D1 is at a lower voltage than its anode, then current will flow through diode D1 from the anode to the cathode. Thus, when the comparator is at its low state, current will flow through the diode D1 as its anode side will be at ~<NUM>. 35VDC above its cathode side. Since the cathode is at the same voltage as the comparator output (<NUM> to <NUM>. 4VDC), the anode will be in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>. For the input to the USB switch, this voltage is a "low" signal. On the other hand, when the output of the comparator <NUM> is high impedance, the output is pulled up to nominal +24VDC through resistor R13. The diode D1 is then reverse biased since its cathode is at a higher voltage than its anode, and no current flows through the diode D1. In this state, the anode side of the diode D1 gets pulled up through resistor R8 and inputs S1 and S2 of the USB signal switch <NUM> are consequently at a high state (nominal 5VDC.

If VUSB is on, after the open-drain output of the comparator <NUM> is pulled up via resistor R13 to a high voltage (e.g., +24VDC), the voltage at the node connecting the output of diode D1 and pins S1 and S2 are pulled to a high voltage (e.g., +5VDC) via resistor R8. The output of comparator <NUM> is either low (<NUM> to <NUM>. 4V) or high impedance, which is effectively an open-circuit. When in a high impedance state, the output is pulled up to nominal 24VDC via resistor R13. When the cathode side of diode D1 is pulled low, it will conduct current, pulling down the anode side of diode D1. When the cathode side of diode D1 is pulled high, it will be reverse biased with respect to its anode side and will effectively be an open-circuit. This allows resistor R8 to pull up the signals connecting to pins S1 and S2 of the USB switch <NUM>. In response, the USB signal switch <NUM> is turned on and USB data communication between the peripheral device and the microcontroller or computer board is enabled. Additionally, the anode of diode D1. <NUM> is applied to the gate of transistor Q2 which is thereby turned on. In response, the drain of Q2 goes to a low voltage, forcing a nominal 12VDC at the gate of transistor Q1 and turning it on. With transistor Q1 turned on, the switched 24VDC supply is enabled and connected to the peripheral device, and nominal 24VDC is supplied to pin <NUM>. If VUSB is off, the open-drain output of the comparator <NUM> changing to a higher voltage does not turn on the USB signal switch <NUM> or transistor Q1 leaving the power supply pin <NUM> effectively turned off. Reversed-biased diode D1. <NUM> is optionally provided and is coupled on one side with the open-drain output of the comparator <NUM> and on the other side with the digital input <NUM> of board <NUM> or another board via line <NUM> effective to communicate the connection status to the board. This signal provided to digital input <NUM> is normally pulled high and is pulled low when the comparator <NUM> is turned on.

Claim 1:
An apparatus comprising:
a connector port (<NUM>) configured to selectably connect with and disconnect from a peripheral device (<NUM>), the connector port (<NUM>) including a power supply pin (<NUM>) and a communication pin;
a detector (<NUM>) including an input pin operatively coupled with the connector port (<NUM>) and an output pin, the detector (<NUM>) configured to provide an output at the output pin in response to connection of the peripheral device (<NUM>) with the connector port (<NUM>) with a time delay between connection of the peripheral device (<NUM>) with the connector port (<NUM>) and providing the output;
a data switch operatively coupled with the detector (<NUM>) output pin and the communication pin and configured to selectably enable and disable data communication between the communication pin and a computer board (<NUM>) in response to the output at the output pin; and
a power switch operatively coupled with the detector (<NUM>), the power supply pin (<NUM>), and a DC power supply (<NUM>) and configured to selectably connect and disconnect the power supply (<NUM>) and the power supply pin (<NUM>) in response to the output at the output pin.