Type-C Multi-Functional Connector Kit Compatible with Lightning Protocol

Abstract

A Type-C multi-function connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol, comprising a Type-C male head connected to the end of a data cable, and an adapter for connecting the Type-C male head to realize Type-C to Lightning conversion; the Type-C male head is configured with a male end circuit board, the male end circuit board integrates a Type-C male end interface circuit for connecting terminals of the Type-C male head, and the Type-C male end interface circuit has a Lightning data / power management unit for Lightning protocol communication decoding; the adapter is configured with a Type-C female socket, a Lightning male head, and an adapter circuit board, the Type-C female socket and the Lightning male head are respectively fixedly connected to two ends of the adapter circuit board, and the adapter circuit board integrates an adapter circuit for connecting terminals of the Type-C female socket and terminals of the Lightning male head; after the Type-C male head is plugged into the Type-C female socket, the Lightning male head obtains support from the Lightning data / power management unit on the male end circuit board through the Type-C male head. The present invention places the Lightning data / power management unit into the Type‑C male connector, reducing the risk of damaging the connector or device due to excessive force and multiple increases in torque during use caused by the adapter being too long.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of USB connectors, and in particular to a Type-C multifunctional connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol. Background Art

[0002] Type-C and Lightning are currently popular methods of data transmission and power connection for terminal devices, and will coexist for a long time. Therefore, a multifunctional data cable that meets both Type-C and Lightning functions is very convenient for consumers to use.

[0003] Among the multifunctional data cables on the market today, Type-C male data cables can be used with Type-C female to Lightning male adapters, so as to meet the needs of the same data cable for both Type-C terminal devices and Lightning terminal devices to transmit power and data. In view of the particularity of the Lightning interface standard, the aforementioned Type-C female to Lightning male adapter structure needs to be configured with a Lightning interface protocol circuit and a current management circuit.

[0004] Since the circuit board of the adapter needs to accommodate the Lightning interface protocol circuit and the current management circuit, it is forced to increase the size for design, resulting in the following defects of the adapter:

[0005] (1) The overall size is too long, which limits the product's appearance design;

[0006] (2) Due to the torque, the stability of the adapter and the Type-C male connector is very poor, and consumers can easily damage the adapter and the female connector inside the terminal device during use.

[0007] (3) The circuit board area is limited, which makes the manufacturing process complicated and not conducive to maintenance. Summary of the invention

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention provides a Type-C multi-function connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol, which integrates the Lightning interface protocol circuit / power management circuit in the Type-C male head at the data line end, and forms a combination kit with a Type-C to Lightning adapter without Lightning protocol communication decoding, which can support the connection of Type-C terminal devices and Lightning terminal devices respectively.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solution.

[0010] A Type-C multi-function connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol, including a Type-C male connector connected to the end of the data cable, and an adapter for connecting the Type-C male connector to achieve Type-C to Lightning conversion;

[0011] The Type-C male connector is provided with a male circuit board, the male circuit board is integrated with a Type-C male interface circuit for connecting the terminals of the Type-C male connector, and the Type-C male interface circuit has a Lightning data / power management unit for Lightning protocol communication decoding;

[0012] The adapter is equipped with a Type-C female socket, a Lightning male connector, and an adapter circuit board. The Type-C female socket and the Lightning male connector are fixedly connected at both ends of the adapter circuit board respectively. The adapter circuit board integrates an adapter circuit that connects the terminals of the Type-C female socket and the terminals of the Lightning male connector. After the Type-C male connector is plugged into the Type-C female socket, the Lightning male connector obtains support from the Lightning data / power management unit on the male circuit board through the Type-C male connector.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the Lightning male connector is a single Lightning interface male connector without its own Lightning protocol communication decoding, or a MicroUSB / Lightning dual-use male connector without its own Lightning protocol communication decoding.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] (1) Place the Lightning data / power management unit into the Type-C male connector and combine it with the Type-C to Lightning adapter to form a combination kit, which can realize data / power connection for the Type-C terminal and the Lightning terminal respectively.

[0016] (2) The adapter circuit design is simpler, which is more convenient when assembling the shell and welding.

[0017] (3) It facilitates the use of data cable products and reduces the risk of damaging the connector or equipment due to excessive force and exponentially increased torque during use caused by the adapter being too long.

[0018] (4) The cost of finished data cable materials is reduced, making them more stable and reliable.

[0019] (5) Improved the scalability of Lightning connector and Type-C connector.

[0020] (6) When the Lightning male connector of the adapter head uses a MicroUSB / Lightning dual-use male terminal connector, it can be respectively compatible with Type-C terminals, Lightning terminals, and MicroUSB terminals for use.

[0021] Next, the present invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the specification and specific embodiments. Description of the Drawings

[0022] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 is an electrical principle block diagram of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 is a circuit principle schematic diagram of the Type-C male terminal interface circuit in the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 is a circuit principle schematic diagram of the adapter circuit in the present invention. Specific Embodiments

[0026] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the Type-C multi-functional connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol includes a Type-C male head 1 connected to the data line end, and also includes an adapter head 2 for the Type-C male head 1 to connect to achieve Type-C to Lightning conversion;

[0027] The Type-C male head 1 is configured with a male terminal circuit board 10, and the male terminal circuit board 10 is integrated with a Type-C male terminal interface circuit 101 connected to the terminals of the Type-C male head 1. The Type-C male terminal interface circuit 101 has a Lightning data / power management unit 102 for Lightning protocol communication decoding;

[0028] The adapter head 2 is configured with a Type-C female socket 21, a Lightning male head 22, and an adapter circuit board 20. The Type-C female socket 21 and the Lightning male head 22 are respectively fixedly connected to both ends of the adapter circuit board 20. The adapter circuit board 20 is integrated with an adapter circuit 201 connecting the terminals of the Type-C female socket 21 and the terminals of the Lightning male head 22; after the Type-C male head 1 is plugged into the Type-C female socket 21, the Lightning male head 22 obtains the support of the Lightning data / power management unit 102 on the male terminal circuit board 10.

[0029] The Type-C multifunctional connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol in the above technical solution places the Lightning data / power management unit 102 into the Type-C male connector 1, and forms a combination kit with the Type-C to Lightning adapter 2, which can respectively realize data / power connection for the Type-C terminal and the Lightning terminal. The design of the adapter circuit 201 is simpler, so the adapter 2 is more convenient when assembling the shell and welding.

[0030] The Type-C multi-function connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol in the above technical solution is convenient for the use of data cable products. Since the design of the adapter circuit 201 is simpler, the size of the adapter circuit board 20 is effectively controlled, reducing the risk of damaging the connector or equipment due to excessive force and exponentially increased torque during use due to the adapter 2 being too long, reducing the cost of finished data cable wires, making it more stable and reliable, and improving the scalability of the Lightning connector and the Type-C connector.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the Lightning male connector 22 is a single Lightning interface male connector without its own Lightning protocol communication decoding, or a MicroUSB / Lightning dual-use male connector without its own Lightning protocol communication decoding. When the Lightning male connector 22 of the converter uses a MicroUSB / Lightning dual-use male connector, it can be compatible with Type-C terminals, Lightning terminals, and MicroUSB terminals.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, Type-C male connector 1 is Figure 3 Port P1 in the Type-C female connector 21 is Figure 4 Port P3 in the Lightning male connector is 22. Figure 4 Port P4 in Figure 3 The component P2 in the figure is a pad configured on the male circuit board 10 for data line connection; the Lightning male connector 22 is defined as a terminal with reference to the electrical specifications of the Lightning connector of Apple Inc., the Type-C male connector 1 and the Type-C female connector 21 define any corresponding set of data terminals as the VOUT electrical network and the DATA electrical network of the corresponding Lightning male connector, and the other terminals of the Type-C male connector 1 and the Type-C female connector 21 are defined with reference to the USB Type-C specification of the USB Association;

[0033] The Lightning data / power management unit 102 is configured with a Lightning interface protocol chip U1 connected to the Type-C male interface circuit 101, and the Lightning interface protocol chip U1 adopts an integrated circuit model HX519;

[0034] The first pin of the Lightning interface protocol chip U1 is connected to the terminal of the DATA electrical network defined in the Type-C male connector 1 corresponding to the Lightning male connector 22, the sixth pin is connected to the terminal of the VOUT electrical network defined in the Type-C male connector 1 corresponding to the Lightning male connector 22, and the fourth pin is connected to the terminal of the VBUS electrical network defined in the Type-C male connector 1;

[0035] After the Type-C male connector 1 is plugged into the Type-C female connector 21, the Lightning interface protocol chip U1 is connected to the terminal of the Lightning male connector 22 through the Type-C male interface circuit 101, the Type-C male connector 1, the Type-C female connector 21, and the adapter circuit 201, and the Lightning interface protocol chip U1 only works when the Lightning male connector 22 is connected to the Lightning terminal device and receives the protocol signal sent by the Lightning terminal device.

[0036] In further improvement schemes, such as Figure 3 As shown, the Type-C male interface circuit 101 is configured with a MOS tube Q1, the gate of the MOS tube Q1 is connected to the 6th pin of the Lightning interface protocol chip U1, the source of the MOS tube Q1 is connected to the terminal of the VOUT electrical network defined as corresponding to the Lightning male connector 22 in the Type-C male connector 1, and the drain of the MOS tube Q1 is connected to the terminal of the VBUS electrical network defined as corresponding to the Lightning male connector 22 in the Type-C male connector 1. The 1st pin of the Lightning interface protocol chip U1 is defined as the VOUT electrical network corresponding to the Lightning male connector 22, and the Lightning interface protocol chip U1 works only when it receives a signal from the Lightning terminal; when the Lightning terminal is disconnected and the Lightning interface protocol chip U1 has no communication, the MOS tube Q1 is also in a closed state, presenting a high impedance state, which will not affect the transmission of data.

[0037] In further improvement schemes, such as Figure 4As shown, a shunt resistor R1 is connected across the terminal defined as the VOUT electrical network in the Lightning male connector 22 and the terminal defined as the VBUS electrical network in the Type-C female connector 21, which is used to continuously provide startup current to the Lightning terminal when the battery of the connected Lightning terminal is out of power, so that the Lightning device can send DATA protocol communication. The shunt resistor R1 enables the A8 pin and B8 pin (VOUT) of the Type-C female connector 21 to pull up any one of the A4 pin, A9 pin, B4 pin, and B9 pin (VBUS) or simultaneously. After the Type-C male connector 1 is inserted into the Type-C female connector 21 of the adapter 2, the shunt resistor R1 shunts the VBUS of the Type-C female connector 21 to ensure that the Lightning terminal can start and send out the Lightning protocol even when there is no power at all, thereby performing power supply or data transmission; when the adapter 2 is unplugged, it is ensured that the Type-C data transmission will not be affected. Figure 4 In the example, the typical value of the shunt resistor R1 is 150 ohms. When the battery of the connected Lightning terminal is out of power, it continuously provides a starting current of 150 mA to the Lightning terminal.

[0038] In further improvement schemes, such as Figure 4 As shown, a pull-down identification resistor R2 is connected across the terminals defined as the CC electrical network and the GND electrical network in the Type-C female socket 21, so that the host can identify the connected Lightning terminal for power and data transmission. After the Type-C male connector 1 is inserted into the Type-C female socket 21 of the adapter 2, CC1 of the Type-C female socket 21 pulls down GND through the pull-down identification resistor R2, so that the host can identify the connected Lightning terminal. Figure 4 The typical value of the pull-down identification resistor R2 is 5.1K ohms.

[0039] In the above scheme, the Type-C to Lightning adapter 2, in addition to providing basic electrical network connection for the Type-C female socket and the Lightning male head, has its adapter circuit 201 removed from the part that implements Lightning protocol communication decoding, and only adds a shunt resistor R1 and a pull-down identification resistor R2, so that the area of the adapter circuit board 20 is reduced and space is saved, thereby effectively shortening the length of the adapter 2; and after the Type-C male head 22 in the adapter 2 is inserted into the Type-C female socket 21, the Lightning male head 22 and the Type-C male head 1 form an integral circuit and can obtain the support of the Lightning interface protocol chip U1, thereby realizing Lightning protocol communication decoding.

[0040] In a further improved solution, such as Figure 4 shown, the A8 pin, B8 pin and four groups of high-speed data transmission channels of the Type-C female socket 21 are empty PINS. The A8 pin (RFU1) and B8 pin (RFU2) of the Type-C female socket 21 and the other four groups of high-speed data transmission channels are only used when the Type-C connector works under a communication protocol above USB3.1. Under the USB2.0 or USB3.0 transmission protocol, the A8 pin (RFU1) and B8 pin (RFU2) of the Type-C female socket 21 and the other four groups of high-speed data transmission channels are empty PINS, which also exactly meets the requirement that the Lightning connector only uses the USB2.0 transmission protocol.

[0041] In a further improved solution, in order to ensure that the Type-C male head 1 can be inserted into the Type-C female socket 21 in both directions without affecting the function, as Figure 4 shown:

[0042] The electrical networks corresponding to the A1 pin, B1 pin, A12 pin, and B12 pin of the Type-C female socket 21 are connected in one-to-one correspondence with the electrical networks corresponding to the A1 pin, B1 pin, A12 pin, and B12 pin of the Type-C male head 1;

[0043] The electrical networks corresponding to the A5 pin and B5 pin of the Type-C female socket 21 are respectively connected in correspondence with the electrical network corresponding to the A5 pin of the Type-C male head 1;

[0044] The electrical networks corresponding to the A6 pin and B6 pin of the Type-C female socket 21 are connected in correspondence with the electrical network corresponding to the A6 pin of the Type-C male head 1;

[0045] The electrical networks corresponding to the A7 pin and B7 pin of the Type-C female socket 21 are connected in correspondence with the electrical network corresponding to the A7 pin of the Type-C male head 1;

[0046] One of the A4 pin, B4 pin, A9 pin, and B9 pin of the Type-C female socket 21 is connected to one of the A4 pin, B4 pin, A9 pin, and B9 pin of the Type-C male head 1; or, the A4 pin, B4 pin, A9 pin, and B9 pin of the Type-C female socket 21 are connected in correspondence with the A4 pin, B4 pin, A9 pin, and B9 pin of the Type-C male head 1. For example Figure 3As shown in the figure, pin A10 of the Type-C male connector 1 is defined as the Lightning VOUT electrical network, and pin A11 is defined as the Lightning DATA electrical network; when the adapter 2 is not connected, since the MOS transistor Q1 is in a high impedance state, the electrical performance of pins A10 and A11 of the Type-C male connector 1 is not affected by the Lightning protocol IC; when the Type-C male connector 1 is connected to the Type-C female socket 21, pins A10 and A11 of the Type-C male connector 1 are respectively connected to the circuits of the Lightning interface protocol chip U1, providing a channel for Lightning protocol communication and power data transmission for the Lightning male connector 22.

[0047] For those skilled in the art, the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the details of the above exemplary embodiments. Without departing from the spirit or basic characteristics of the present invention, all variations and embodiments within the equivalent meaning and scope of protection made by those skilled in the art based on the elements of the present invention should be included within the present invention.

Claims

1. A Type-C multi-functional connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol, including a Type-C male connector connected to the data cable end, and also including an adapter for the Type-C male connector to achieve Type-C to Lightning conversion; It is characterized in that: The Type-C male connector is configured with a male-end circuit board, and the male-end circuit board integrates a Type-C male-end interface circuit connecting the terminals of the Type-C male connector. The Type-C male-end interface circuit has a Lightning data / power management unit for Lightning protocol communication decoding; The adapter is configured with a Type-C female socket, a Lightning male connector, and an adapter circuit board. The Type-C female socket and the Lightning male connector are respectively fixedly connected to both ends of the adapter circuit board. The adapter circuit board integrates an adapter circuit connecting the terminals of the Type-C female socket and the terminals of the Lightning male connector; After the Type-C male connector is plugged into the Type-C female socket, the Lightning male connector obtains the support of the Lightning data / power management unit on the male-end circuit board through the Type-C male connector; The Lightning male connector is a single Lightning interface male-end connector without built-in Lightning protocol communication decoding, or a MicroUSB / Lightning dual-use male-end connector without built-in Lightning protocol communication decoding.

2. The Type-C multi-functional connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Lightning male connector defines the terminals according to the electrical specifications of Apple's Lightning connector. The Type-C male connector and the Type-C female socket respectively define any group of corresponding data terminals as the VOUT electrical network and the DATA electrical network of the corresponding Lightning male connector, and the other terminals of the Type-C male connector and the Type-C female socket are defined according to the USB Type-C specification of the USB Implementers Forum; The Lightning data / power management unit is configured with a Lightning interface protocol chip U1 connected to the Type-C male-end interface circuit. The Lightning interface protocol chip U1 uses an integrated circuit of model HX519; The first pin of the Lightning interface protocol chip U1 is connected to the terminal of the Type-C male connector defined as the DATA electrical network of the corresponding Lightning male connector, the sixth pin is connected to the terminal of the Type-C male connector defined as the VOUT electrical network of the corresponding Lightning male connector, and the fourth pin is connected to the terminal of the Type-C male connector defined as the VBUS electrical network; After the Type-C male connector and the Type-C female connector are plugged in, the Lightning interface protocol chip U1 is connected to the terminal of the Lightning male connector through the Type-C male interface circuit, the Type-C male connector, the Type-C female connector, and the adapter circuit, and the Lightning interface protocol chip U1 only works when the Lightning male connector is connected to the Lightning terminal device and receives the protocol signal sent by the Lightning terminal device.

3. The Type-C multifunctional connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The Type-C male interface circuit is configured with a MOS tube Q1, the gate of the MOS tube Q1 is connected to the 6th pin of the Lightning interface protocol chip U1, the source of the MOS tube Q1 is connected to the terminal of the VOUT electrical network defined as corresponding to the Lightning male connector in the Type-C male connector, and the drain of the MOS tube Q1 is connected to the terminal of the VBUS electrical network defined as corresponding to the Lightning male connector in the Type-C male connector.

4. The Type-C multifunctional connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: A shunt resistor R1 is connected across the terminal defined as the VOUT electrical network in the Lightning male connector and the terminal defined as the VBUS electrical network in the Type-C female connector. It is used to continuously provide startup current to the Lightning terminal when the battery of the connected Lightning terminal is out of power, so that the Lightning device can send DATA protocol communication.

5. The Type-C multifunctional connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: A pull-down identification resistor R2 is connected across the terminals defined as the CC electrical network and the GND electrical network in the Type-C female connector so that the host can identify the connected Lightning terminal for power supply and data transmission.

6. The Type-C multifunctional connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The A8 pin, B8 pin and four sets of high-speed data transmission channels of the Type-C female connector are empty PINs.

7. The Type-C multifunctional connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The electrical networks corresponding to the A1, B1, A12, and B12 pins of the Type-C female connector and the electrical networks corresponding to the A1, B1, A12, and B12 pins of the Type-C male connector are matched and connected one by one; The electrical networks corresponding to the A5 and B5 pins of the Type-C female connector and the electrical network corresponding to the A5 pin of the Type-C male connector are matched and connected respectively; The electrical network corresponding to the A6 and B6 pins of the Type-C female connector is matched and connected with the electrical network corresponding to the A6 pin of the Type-C male connector; The electrical network corresponding to the A7 and B7 pins of the Type-C female connector is matched and connected with the electrical network corresponding to the A7 pin of the Type-C male connector; One of the pins A4, B4, A9, and B9 of the Type-C female socket is connected to one of the pins A4, B4, A9, and B9 of the Type-C male plug.

8. The Type-C multi-functional connector kit compatible with the Lightning protocol according to claim 2, wherein: The electrical networks corresponding to pins A1, B1, A12, and B12 of the Type-C female socket are respectively and correspondingly connected to the electrical networks corresponding to pins A1, B1, A12, and B12 of the Type-C male plug; The electrical networks corresponding to pins A5 and B5 of the Type-C female socket are respectively and correspondingly connected to the electrical network corresponding to pin A5 of the Type-C male plug; The electrical networks corresponding to pins A6 and B6 of the Type-C female socket are correspondingly connected to the electrical network corresponding to pin A6 of the Type-C male plug; The electrical networks corresponding to pins A7 and B7 of the Type-C female socket are correspondingly connected to the electrical network corresponding to pin A7 of the Type-C male plug; Pins A4, B4, A9, and B9 of the Type-C female socket are correspondingly connected to pins A4, B4, A9, and B9 of the Type-C male plug.

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