Peripheral interface module of computer equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses a peripheral interface module of computer equipment, which comprises a module side expansion interface, and the module side expansion interface is connected with a host side expansion interface of the computer equipment in a physical plugging mode; each of the host side expansion interface and the module side expansion interface comprises a module function signal and is used for identifying a protocol type supported by the peripheral interface module; and the protocol self-matching system is used for automatically identifying the protocol type of the peripheral interface module according to the module function signal and switching the corresponding controller configuration to realize a plug-and-play function. After the interface is replaced, the interface output from the processor is lower in delay, no external extra equipment exists, carrying is more convenient, management and maintenance are convenient, meanwhile, the interface is used for self-defining, secondary development and transformation of a notebook computer interface according to self requirements, the interface adapts to application scenarios of non-standard peripherals, different function protocol modules are automatically recognized, and the interface switching efficiency is improved. The switching of the corresponding controllers is completed, and the plug and play of the module is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a peripheral interface module of computer equipment. Background Art

[0002] The peripheral interface module is an important component of the notebook computer system and is an integrated component of the notebook computer, not a discrete expansion device.

[0003] The current development of computer applications is as follows: 1. Computer application scenarios are becoming increasingly diverse. Different application scenarios have different peripheral interface requirements. Fixed peripheral interfaces cannot meet various requirements. 2. The rapid development of computer technology has led to rapid changes in the bandwidth, form factor, and compatibility of interfaces, causing electronic products to become obsolete and eliminated by the times; 3. Living and working environments are becoming increasingly compact, which places demands on laptops to be thinner and lighter. Laptops with too many interfaces will become larger.

[0004] Existing technical situation: 1. Interface bridging technology, through mainstream universal interfaces, external docking station routing devices, such as USB docking stations, or USB adapters.

[0005] 2. Patent No. CN101620457A discloses a modular functional expansion laptop system and removable functional expansion modules, including modular removable functional expansion modules. The modular functional expansion module consists of at least one functional expansion compartment embedded in the laptop computer, a removable functional expansion module that can be inserted into the functional expansion compartment and operate, and an electrical interface connecting the removable functional expansion module to the computer. The functional expansion compartment has a single-layer, double-layer, or triple-layer structure. The electrical interface of the functional expansion compartment includes at least a computer bus combination interface, a battery power interface, a data interface, a comprehensive interface, or a combination of these interfaces. The removable functional expansion module consists of a functional component enclosed by a housing and a modular connector that connects to the electrical interface. Its external shape, or its combined shape, is compatible with the internal space of the functional module expansion compartment. It offers strong functional expansion, configuration upgrades, and interchangeability, providing a wide variety of quickly switchable external interfaces and functional expansions. However, this patented expansion utilizes multiple bus combinations, making it impossible to achieve plug-and-play operation. After replacing a module, the system needs to be reconfigured for smooth operation. This design also wastes resources due to the remaining unused bus.

[0006] At the same time, the delay caused by bridging, expanding or switching interfaces solves the real-time problem and adapts to delay-sensitive application scenarios; the external bridging expansion method requires an additional device connection, which greatly reduces portability; non-standard interface applications support users' secondary development and customized interfaces to adapt to non-standard peripheral application scenarios; the replaced module needs to be upgraded or the system configuration is replaced, and automatic negotiation and plug-and-play cannot be completed. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technical solution for a peripheral interface module of a computer device to address the deficiencies in the prior art. Not only can the interface delay output from the processor be lower after the interface is replaced, and there is no external additional equipment, it is more convenient to carry and easy to manage and maintain. At the same time, it supports customization according to one's own needs, secondary development and transformation of notebook interfaces, and adapts to application scenarios of non-standard peripherals. After replacing the peripheral interface module, it automatically identifies different functional protocol modules and completes the corresponding controller switching, making the module plug-and-play. At the same time, the module function and in-place identification mechanism can ensure that the replaced module operates in a stable and correct protocol mode.

[0008] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: A peripheral interface module for a computer device, characterized by comprising: A module-side expansion interface, which is connected to a host-side expansion interface of a computer device by physical plugging; Both the host-side expansion interface and the module-side expansion interface include module function signals, which are used to identify the protocol type supported by the peripheral interface module; The protocol self-matching system is used to automatically identify the protocol type of the peripheral interface module according to the module function signal, and switch the corresponding controller configuration to achieve plug-and-play function.

[0009] Through the design of the above structure, not only can the interface delay output from the processor be lower after the interface is replaced, and there is no external additional equipment, it is more convenient to carry and easy to manage and maintain, but also supports customization according to one's own needs, secondary development and transformation of notebook interfaces, and adaptation to application scenarios of non-standard peripherals. Moreover, after replacing the peripheral interface module, it automatically identifies different functional protocol modules and completes the corresponding controller switching, making the module plug-and-play. At the same time, the module function and in-situ identification mechanism can ensure that the replaced module operates in a stable and correct protocol mode.

[0010] The present invention has the following beneficial effects due to the adoption of the above technical solution: 1. Compared with the bridging and expansion methods, the present invention has a lower interface delay output from the processor after the interface is replaced, and does not require any external equipment, making it more convenient to carry and easy to manage and maintain. At the same time, it supports customization according to one's own needs, secondary development and transformation of notebook interfaces, and adapts to application scenarios of non-standard peripherals.

[0011] 2. After replacing the peripheral interface module, it automatically identifies modules with different functional protocols and completes the corresponding controller switching, making the module plug-and-play. At the same time, the module function and in-place identification mechanism can ensure that the replaced module operates in a stable and correct protocol mode. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between a peripheral interface module and a notebook computer body in a peripheral interface module of a computer device according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a flow chart of the present invention when replacing a PCIe expansion module with a USB interface module; Figure 3 This is a circuit diagram of the module presence detection unit in the present invention; Figure 4 This is a circuit diagram of the module function detection unit in the present invention; Figure 5 This is a circuit diagram for identifying different cable types in the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features of the embodiments in this application can be combined with each other. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in combination with the embodiments.

[0014] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the solutions of the present invention, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0015] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," and so on in the description and claims of the present invention and the accompanying drawings are used to distinguish similar items and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or precedence. Furthermore, the terms "including," "having," and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0016] Definitions of professional terms used in this invention: present: in office; funid: function identifier; PCIe: Peripheral Component Interconnect Express; USB / PCIe COMBO: Universal Serial Bus / Peripheral Component Interconnect Express multiplexer; Cableid: Cable ID.

[0017] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, a peripheral interface module of a computer device of the present invention is described. The computer device of the present application is described by taking a laptop computer as an example. The laptop computer includes a laptop computer body, and the laptop computer body includes a motherboard and a host-side expansion interface.

[0018] The module-side expansion interface is connected to the host-side expansion interface of the notebook computer body through physical plug-in.

[0019] Both the host-side expansion interface and the module-side expansion interface include module function signals, which are used to identify the protocol type supported by the peripheral interface module.

[0020] Module function signals include: Host-side function ID signal funidA[1,0] and cable ID signal cableidA[1,0]; Module-side function ID signal funidB[1,0] and cable ID signal cableidB[1,0]; The protocol self-matching system determines the functional protocol type of the peripheral interface module by comparing the functional ID signal and the cable ID signal.

[0021] The protocol self-matching system is used to automatically identify the protocol type of the peripheral interface module according to the module function signal, and switch the corresponding controller configuration to achieve plug-and-play function.

[0022] The protocol self-matching system includes: a module presence detection unit, a module function detection unit and an input and output control unit.

[0023] The module presence detection unit is used to identify whether the peripheral interface module is ready.

[0024] like Figure 3As shown, the cable connects the four physical corners, and four present signals are set. On the module side, presentB[3,0] is low level 0. When the peripheral interface module is not connected, presentA[3,0] on the host side is high level 1. When the peripheral interface module is connected via the cable, the presentA signals distributed in the four corners are all pulled to a low level. All electrical signals of the peripheral interface module have been successfully and fully connected to the host side. The host side detects presentA[3,0]=0000 and recognizes that the peripheral interface module is ready.

[0025] The module function detection unit is used to identify the functional classification of the peripheral interface module.

[0026] like Figure 4 As shown in the figure, the peripheral interface module distinguishes by signal grounding or disconnection, so that funidB0 and funidB1 have different electrical levels, so that funidB[1,0] has four electrical signal combination values ​​of 00, 01, 10, and 11, which correspond to peripheral interface modules with different functional classifications. The host side funidA0 and funidA1 signals are both maintained at a high level and pulled up. The peripheral interface module distinguishes by signal grounding or disconnection, so that each signal of funidA0 and funidA1 on the host side can detect two high and low levels of 1 and 0, that is, funidA[1,0] has four values ​​of 00, 01, 10, and 11, so that the functional classification of the peripheral interface module can be judged by different values.

[0027] like Figure 5 As shown, cableidB[1,0] has four electrical signal combination values ​​of 00, 01, 10, and 11, corresponding to different connection cable categories. The cableidA0 and cableidA1 signals on the host side are both maintained at a high level and pulled up, and the signals on the peripheral interface module side are grounded. Different cables are connected or disconnected through the cableid signal, and the cableidA0 and cableidA1 signals on the host side obtain different level signals. That is, cableidA[1,0] has four values ​​of 00, 01, 10, and 11, so different cable types can be identified by different values.

[0028] The input and output control unit is used to match the corresponding functions according to the functional configuration and cable specifications of the peripheral interface module, load the corresponding matching configuration data, and switch to the corresponding controller.

[0029] The input and output control unit is a USB / PCIe COMBO control unit. When the peripheral interface module is replaced from a PCIe expansion module to a USB interface module, plug and play is achieved.

[0030] Both the host side expansion interface and the module side expansion interface also include: peripheral interface signals, in-place ready signals and serial communication signals.

[0031] Peripheral interface signals include clock signals and link signals.

[0032] The peripheral interface signals of the host-side expansion interface are high-speed signals, including USB3.0 signals, PCIe signals and independent clock signals, and support multi-protocol multiplexing.

[0033] The ready signal is used to indicate the connection status between the peripheral interface module and the notebook computer body.

[0034] The presence ready signal includes the host-side presence signal presentA[3,0] and the module-side presence signal presentB[3,0]. When a module is inserted, the presence signal level change triggers the detection process of the protocol self-matching system.

[0035] Serial communication signals are used to transmit the operating status parameters of the peripheral interface module.

[0036] The operating status parameters of serial communication signal transmission include power status and module working status.

[0037] The peripheral interface module supports dual-mode operation of USB3.0 protocol and PCIe protocol, and after the module is replaced, the protocol adaptation is automatically completed through the protocol self-matching system without manual configuration or system restart.

[0038] Through the design of the above structure, not only can the interface delay output from the processor be lower after the interface is replaced, and there is no external additional equipment, it is more convenient to carry and easy to manage and maintain, and it also supports customization according to one's own needs, secondary development and transformation of notebook interfaces, and adapting to application scenarios of non-standard peripherals. Moreover, after replacing the peripheral interface module, it automatically identifies different functional protocol modules and completes the corresponding controller switching, so that the module can be plug-and-play. At the same time, the module function and in-place identification mechanism can ensure that the replaced module is running in a stable and correct protocol mode. Compared with the PCIe bridging USB method, the present invention can save the bandwidth utilization loss caused by bridging through automatic protocol matching, and has better bandwidth utilization, as shown in Table 1: Table 1 .

[0039] When the peripheral interface module is in use, after power on, the motherboard side present signal presentA changes from high level 1 to low level 0, triggering and enabling the module function detection unit, detecting the module's function ID signal funidA[1,0] and cable ID signal cableidA[1,0], matching the corresponding module function, loading the configuration data of the USB3.0 interface function, and switching the USB / PCIe combo unit to the USB control unit to realize the functional use of the USB expansion interface.

[0040] The above are only specific embodiments of the present invention, but the technical features of the present invention are not limited thereto. Any simple changes, equivalent replacements, or modifications based on the present invention to achieve substantially the same technical effects are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A peripheral interface module for a computer device, characterized in that: include A module-side expansion interface, the module-side expansion interface being connected to a host-side expansion interface of a computer device by physical plugging; The host-side expansion interface and the module-side expansion interface both include module function signals for identifying the protocol type supported by the peripheral interface module; The protocol self-matching system is used to automatically identify the protocol type of the peripheral interface module according to the module function signal and switch the corresponding controller configuration to achieve plug-and-play function.

2. The peripheral interface module of a computer device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protocol self-matching system includes: A module presence detection unit, used to identify whether the peripheral interface module is ready; A module function detection unit, configured to identify the functional classification of the peripheral interface module; and an input / output control unit, which is used to match corresponding functions according to the functional configuration and cable specifications of the peripheral interface module, load corresponding matching configuration data, and switch to the corresponding controller.

3. The peripheral interface module of a computer device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The module function signal includes: Host-side function ID signal funidA[1,0] and cable ID signal cableidA[1,0]; Module-side function ID signal funidB[1,0] and cable ID signal cableidB[1,0]; The protocol self-matching system determines the functional protocol type of the peripheral interface module by comparing the functional ID signal and the cable ID signal.

4. The peripheral interface module of a computer device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The module presence detection unit includes a present signal. On the module side, presentB[3,0] is a low level 0. When the peripheral interface module is not connected, presentA[3,0] on the host side is a high level 1. When the peripheral interface module is connected via a cable, the presentA signal is pulled to a low level, and all electrical signals of the peripheral interface module have been successfully and fully connected to the host side. The host side detects presentA[3,0]=0000 and recognizes that the peripheral interface module is ready.

5. The peripheral interface module of a computer device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The module function detection unit includes a funid signal, which corresponds to peripheral interface modules of different functional classifications. The host side maintains a high level pull-up. When the peripheral interface module is distinguished by signal grounding or disconnection processing, the host side detects two high and low levels of 1 and 0, thereby judging the functional classification of the peripheral interface module.

6. The peripheral interface module of a computer device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The module function detection unit includes a cableid signal, which corresponds to different connection cable categories. The host side maintains a high level pull-up. When the module side signal is grounded, different cables are connected or disconnected through the cableid signal, and different level signals are obtained on the host side to identify different cable types.

7. The peripheral interface module of a computer device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The input and output control unit is a USB / PCIe COMBO control unit. When the peripheral interface module is replaced from a PCIe expansion module to a USB interface module, plug and play is achieved.

8. The peripheral interface module of a computer device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The host-side expansion interface and the module-side expansion interface further include peripheral interface signals, and the peripheral interface signals include clock signals and link signals.

9. The peripheral interface module of a computer device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The peripheral interface signal of the host side expansion interface is a high-speed signal, including USB3.0 signal, PCIe signal and independent clock signal, and supports multi-protocol multiplexing.

10. The peripheral interface module of a computer device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The host-side expansion interface and the module-side expansion interface further include an in-place ready signal for indicating the connection status between the peripheral interface module and the computer device.

11. The peripheral interface module of a computer device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The in-place ready signal includes a host-side in-place signal and a module-side in-place signal. When the peripheral interface module is inserted, the level change of the in-place signal triggers the detection process of the protocol automatic matching system.

12. The peripheral interface module of a computer device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The host-side expansion interface and the module-side expansion interface also include serial communication signals for transmitting operating status parameters of the peripheral interface module. The operating status parameters transmitted by the serial communication signals include power status and module working status.

13. The peripheral interface module of a computer device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The peripheral interface module supports dual-mode operation of the USB 3.0 protocol and the PCIe protocol, and after the peripheral interface module is replaced, the protocol adaptation is automatically completed through the protocol self-matching system without the need for manual configuration or system restart.

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