Patent ID: 8898363

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a first and a second serial interface, each comprising at least one data line and a power supply line; a first switching unit coupled to the power supply lines of said first serial interface and said second serial interface, the first switching unit comprising a first switch placed between the power supply line of the first serial interface and the power supply line of the second serial interface, wherein in a first state said first switching unit closes the first switch such that the power supply line of said first serial interface is connected to the power supply line of said second serial interface via the closed first switch; a controller configured to control said first switching unit, wherein the first switching unit comprises a second switch placed between the power supply line of the first serial interface and a first further power supply line, and wherein in a second state said first switching unit closes the second switch such that the power supply line of said first serial interface is connected to the first further power supply line via the closed second switch, said first further power supply line being configured to be connected to a first power supply; and wherein said apparatus comprises a charger identification unit configured to detect a charger connected to the second serial interface, and wherein said controller switches said first switching unit into the first state in response to the charger identification unit detecting a charger at the second serial interface.