Patent ID: 7039731

Claim:
A USB interface by which an electrical/electronic product can be connected to a general peripheral device, said USB interface comprising: a USB connector for receiving a USB signal from the electrical/electronic product, a single conversion circuit for converting the USB signal into an external interface signal that is transmitted to the general peripheral device, a selector connected between said USB connector and said conversion circuit and responsive to a status signal; at least one external interface connector for transmitting the external interface signal to the general peripheral device, and at least one expansion connector for directly connecting to at least one other expansion connector of a second USB interface without a cable connected therebetween, said status signal indicating whether said at least one expansion connector is connected to said at least one other expansion connector; wherein said selector is configured to transmit said USB signal received from the USB connector to the second USB interface and to not transmit the USB signal directly to the conversion circuit when said status signal indicates that said at least one expansion connector is connected to said at least one other expansion connector; and wherein said selector is configured to transmit said USB signal received from the USB connector directly to the conversion circuit when said status signal indicates that said at least one expansion connector is not connected to said at least one other expansion connector.