Patent ID: 8374572

Claim:
An apparatus for automatically detecting the presence of an external device in a port of a mobile terminal, comprising: a connection unit to electrically connect an external device to the mobile terminal, and to send level information according to a type of external device connected to the mobile terminal, wherein the level information has a different voltage level according to the type of connected external device; a switch end to identify that the external device is electrically connected to the connection unit if the switch end is open; a sensor to determine the type of external device electrically connected to the connection unit according to the voltage level of the level information and to generate an indication signal containing a determination result; a main processor to generate a control signal to control the external device according to the indication signal; and an external device controller to control the external device, if the external device is connected to the mobile terminal, by receiving the control signal from the main processor, wherein the external device controller enables the connected external device automatically if the external device is connected to the connection unit.