Patent ID: 8312199

Claim:
A high current multi-port USB hub, comprising: a plurality of USB ports; at least one microcontroller to control operation of the USB hub to enable the USB hub to switch between synchronizing mode in which data is provided at the USB ports and high current charging mode in which at least 2 Amps of approximately 5V DC power is provided at the USB ports; at least one USB hub controller to provide data to the USB ports while the USB hub is in synchronizing mode; and multiple instances of USB port circuitry, each instance of USB port circuitry including a power FET controllably connected to the microcontroller and operable to provide the at least 2 Amps of 5V DC power to an associated one of the USB ports while the USB hub is in the charging mode, the power FET being further operable to provide low power to the associated one of the USB ports while the USB hub is in the synchronizing mode.