A docking station capable of switching and connecting multiple upstream hosts

Abstract

The invention discloses a docking station capable of switchably connecting multiple upstream hosts, comprising a first upstream port, a second upstream port and a downstream port, wherein a DP signal terminal and an RX / TX signal terminal of the first upstream port are respectively connected to a first DP signal terminal and an RX / TX signal terminal of a DP / USB multiplexer, an SSTX / SSRX signal terminal of the DP / USB multiplexer and an SSTX / SSRX signal terminal of the second upstream port are respectively connected to a first SSTX / SSRX signal terminal of a USB3.0 data switch, a third SSTX / SSRX signal terminal of the USB3.0 data switch is connected to a USB expansion module, a control pin of the USB3.0 data switch is connected to a PD control module, and the PD control module is connected to a switch module. The invention realizes that devices connected to the docking station communicate with different upstream hosts respectively through switching of the switch module, and can be realized without unplugging the docking station and inserting it into another host, and is convenient to use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of expansion docks, and in particular to an expansion dock capable of switchably connecting to a plurality of upstream hosts. Background Art

[0002] The docking station (Dock / dongle / hub) is used to connect to the upstream host. Its multiple interfaces are connected to multiple peripherals respectively, realizing communication between different peripherals and the upstream host and completing data exchange.

[0003] Traditional Dock / dongle / hub can only connect to one upstream host (upstream devices such as computers and mobile phones). When communicating with other upstream hosts, it needs to be unplugged from the current upstream host and plugged into another upstream host to achieve data exchange with the other upstream host. For example, after a USB flash drive is connected to a Dock / dongle / hub and inserted into the first upstream host, the USB flash drive can be read and written from the first upstream host. However, when the USB flash drive needs to be read and written by the second upstream host, the Dock / dongle / hub needs to be unplugged from the first upstream host and plugged into the second upstream host, which is inconvenient to use.

[0004] In view of this, there is an urgent need to improve the existing Dock / dongle / hub devices to facilitate data interaction with multiple upstream hosts. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned defects, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a docking station capable of switching connections to multiple upstream hosts, so as to solve the problem of inconvenience in switching between different upstream hosts in the prior art.

[0006] To this end, the present invention provides a docking station capable of switchably connecting to multiple upstream hosts, comprising a first upstream port and a downstream port, and further comprising a second upstream port.

[0007] The DP signal terminal and the RX / TX signal terminal of the first upstream port are respectively connected to the first DP signal terminal and the RX / TX signal terminal of the DP / USB multiplexer, the SSTX / SSRX signal terminal of the DP / USB multiplexer and the SSTX / SSRX signal terminal of the second upstream port are respectively connected to the first and second SSTX / SSRX signal terminals of the USB3.0 data switch, and the third SSTX / SSRX signal terminal of the USB3.0 data switch is connected to the USB expansion module, which is used to implement USB HUB expansion to connect more USB devices;

[0008] The control pin of the USB3.0 data switch is connected to the PD control module, and the PD control module is connected to the switch module. Through the switch module, the PD control module generates a switching instruction to control the USB3.0 data switch to switch the first and second SSTX / SSRX signals of the first upstream port and the second upstream port.

[0009] In the above technical scheme, preferably, the second DP signal end of the DP / USB multiplexer and the DP signal end of the second upstream port are respectively connected to the first and second DP signal ends of the DP switching module as two DP inputs, and the DP output end of the DP switching module is connected to the DP-HDMI conversion module, which converts the DP signal into an HDMI signal and outputs it through the HDMI interface. The control pin of the DP switching module is connected to the PD control module through the I2C bus, and the DP switching module is controlled through the switch module to switch the DP input signals of the first upstream port and the second upstream port, and output them to the DP-HDMI conversion module.

[0010] In the above technical solution, preferably, the DP / DM signal ends of the first upstream port and the second upstream port are respectively connected to the first and second DP / DM signal ends of the USB2.0 data switch, the third DP / DM signal end of the USB2.0 data switch is connected to the USB expansion module, and the control pin of the USB2.0 data switch is connected to the PD control module. Through the switch module, the PD control module generates a switching instruction to control the USB2.0 data switch to switch the DP / DM signals of the first upstream port and the second upstream port.

[0011] In the above technical solution, preferably, the key switch can be an electronic button or a touch key.

[0012] In the above technical solution, preferably, the UFP-CC signal input by the first upstream port and the DFP-CC signal input by the second upstream port are respectively output to the PD control module, and the DFP-CC signal output by the PD control module is output to the downstream port, and the CC signal switching between the first upstream port and the second upstream port and the downstream port is realized by a key switch.

[0013] In the above technical solution, preferably, a Type C interface and two USB interfaces are obtained through expansion through a USB expansion module.

[0014] In the above technical solution, preferably, the USB expansion module is also connected to a USB multi-port repeater to further expand an SD\TF card reader interface, an audio interface and an RJ45 interface.

[0015] In the above technical solution, preferably, the PD control module is connected to the charging management module, the charging management module supplies power to the first upstream port and the downstream port through VBUS, the power management module draws power from VBUS, and the PD control module supplies power to the second upstream port through I2C control.

[0016] In the above technical solution, preferably, the expansion dock includes but is not limited to a Dock, a dongle and a hub.

[0017] It can be seen from the above technical solution that the expansion dock provided by the present invention can switchably connect to multiple upstream hosts, which solves the problem of inconvenient use of switching upstream hosts in the prior art. Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] The first upstream port and the second upstream port can be connected to two different hosts respectively. By switching the switch module, the devices connected to the expansion dock can communicate with different upstream hosts respectively. This can be achieved without unplugging the expansion dock and plugging it into another host, which is convenient to use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces and describes the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present invention or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention, and for ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0020] Figure 1 A circuit diagram of an expansion dock capable of switchably connecting to multiple upstream hosts provided by the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 The figure is a schematic diagram of the expansion connection of the USB expansion module in the present invention.

[0022] Figure 1-Figure 2 In the figure, the reference numerals of the parts are as follows:

[0023] A first uplink port 11, a second uplink port 12, and a downlink port 13;

[0024] DP / USB multiplexer 20, USB3.0 data switch 30, USB multi-port repeater 31, USB expansion module 40, PD control module 50, switch module 60, DP switching module 70, DP-HDMI conversion module 80, HDMI interface 81, USB2.0 data switch 90, charging management module 95, power management module 96. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described below 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 work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] In order to more clearly explain and illustrate the technical solution and implementation of the present invention, several preferred specific embodiments for implementing the technical solution of the present invention are introduced below.

[0027] It should be noted that the directional words such as "inside, outside", "front, back" and "left, right" in this article are expressed based on the product usage status. Obviously, the use of the corresponding directional words does not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of this scheme.

[0028] The technical terms involved in the present invention are abbreviated as follows:

[0029] DFP (Downstream Facing Port): Downstream port, for downstream data and external power supply.

[0030] UFP (Upstream Facing Port): Upstream port, which draws power from Vbus and can provide data.

[0031] CC (Configuration Channel): Configuration channel, detects whether the USB Type-C is plugged in the forward and reverse directions, establishes and manages the connection between data and VBUS between USB devices, etc.

[0032] ESD / EMI, electromagnetic radiation / electromagnetic interference.

[0033] RXP / RXN, receive positive / receive negative.

[0034] SSTX / SSRX, USB3.0 send / receive channel.

[0035] DP interface, Display Port, digital video interface.

[0036] DP / DM, USB data positive signal line (USB Data Positive, DP), USB data negative signal line (USB Data Minus, DM).

[0037] OCP (Over Current Protection), over-current protection.

[0038] like Figure 1As shown, the present invention provides a docking station that can switchably connect multiple upstream hosts, including a first upstream port 11, a second upstream port 12 and a downstream port 13. The first upstream port 11 and the second upstream port 12 are respectively in the form of Type-C interfaces, the first upstream port 11 is used to connect to the first host hostA, the second upstream port 12 is used to connect to the second host hostB, and the downstream port 13 is used to connect to a USB device and provide a charging function. The docking station includes but is not limited to a dock, a dongle and a hub, and the first host hostA and the second host hostB can be a PC, a smart phone or other host devices.

[0039] The DP signal end and RX / TX signal end of the first upstream port 11 are respectively connected to the first DP signal end and RX / TX signal end of the DP / USB multiplexer 20, the DP / USB multiplexer 20 can adopt PS8822, the SSTX / SSRX signal end of the DP / USB multiplexer 20 and the SSTX / SSRX signal end of the second upstream port 12 are respectively connected to the first and second SSTX / SSRX signal ends of the USB3.0 data switch 30, the USB3.0 data switch 30 can adopt VL163, and the third SSTX / SSRX signal end of the USB3.0 data switch 30 is connected to the USB expansion module 40. The USB expansion module 40 is used to implement the USB HUB expansion work, and can connect more USB devices, such as connecting multiple USB devices such as U disks and hard disks at the same time.

[0040] The control pin of the USB3.0 data switch 30 is connected to the PD control module 50, the PD control module 50 is connected to the switch module 60, and the switch module 60 can be connected to a key switch. The key switch can be a key button or a touch button. The key switch enables the PD control module 50 to generate a switching instruction.

[0041] Specifically, by operating the key switch, the PD control module 50 generates a switching instruction, and outputs it to the USB3.0 data switch 30 through the GPIO pin of the PD control module 50, and accordingly switches the first and second SSTX / SSRX signals, thereby realizing the communication between the first upstream port and the second upstream port and the USB expansion module 40, and realizing the switching of the two upstream signals, which is convenient to use. For example, the first host hostA and the second host hostB can access the USB3.0 device such as a U disk inserted into the USB expansion module 40 through switching.

[0042] The second DP signal end of the DP / USB multiplexer 20 and the DP signal end of the second upstream port 12 are respectively connected to the DP switching module 70, and the DP output end of the DP switching module 70 is connected to the DP-HDMI conversion module 80. After converting the DP signal into an HDMI signal, it is output by the HDMI interface 81. The control pin of the DP switching module 70 is connected to the PD control module 50 through the I2C bus. Through the switch module, the DP signal of the first host hostA and the second host hostB can be switched and converted into an HDMI signal output to connect the extended display device.

[0043] The DP / DM signal ends of the first upstream port 11 and the second upstream port 12 are connected to the first and second DP / DM signal ends of the USB2.0 data switch 90, the third DP / DM signal end of the USB2.0 data switch 90 is connected to the USB expansion module 40, and the control pin of the USB2.0 data switch 90 is connected to the PD control module 50. The USB2.0 data switching of the first upstream port 11 and the second upstream port 12 is realized through the switch module. For example, the first host hostA and the second host hostB can access USB2.0 devices such as a U disk inserted into the USB expansion module 40 through switching.

[0044] The downstream port 13 is connected to the PD control module 50, which is connected to the charging management module 95. The charging management module 95 supplies power to the first upstream port 11 and the downstream port 13 through VBUS, respectively. The power management module 96 draws power from VBUS and is controlled by the PD control module 50 through I2C to supply power to the second upstream port 12. The charging management module 95 may adopt MT7232, and the power management module 96 may adopt IM5200.

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, the USB expansion module 40 can adopt VL817, and a Type C and two USB interfaces can be expanded through the USB expansion module 40. The USB expansion module 40 can also be connected to the USB multi-port repeater 31. The USB multi-port repeater 31 can adopt VL817, and further expand to obtain SD\TF card reader interface, 3.5mm audio interface and RJ45 interface. For example, the SD / TF function is realized through RTS5306, the 3.5mm earphone is connected through AL4042 to listen to music, MIC input 2 is realized, and the network cable is connected through RTL8153 to provide Internet access to the first host or the second host.

[0046] The present invention further provides an MCU 80. The first host hostA or the second host hostB can issue a switching instruction to the MCU via the first upstream port 11 or the second upstream port 12. The MCU then issues a switching instruction to the PD control module 50 via I2C to implement a soft switching function.

[0047] In the solution of the present invention, the PD control module 50 has three built-in PDs, which can realize the PD handshake function of two hosts and one DPF, and at the same time, it controls the power timing and switching control of the expansion dock through GPIO, and is responsible for charging management control.

[0048] Based on the description of the above specific embodiments, the expansion docking station capable of switchably connecting to multiple upstream hosts provided by the present invention has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0049] First, the first upstream port and the second upstream port can be connected to two different hosts respectively, and the switching of one or two upstream signals can be realized by switching the switch module, so that the devices connected to the expansion dock can communicate with different hosts respectively, without unplugging the expansion dock and plugging in another host, which is convenient to use.

[0050] Second, a USB3.0 data switch and a USB2.0 data switch are provided respectively to realize data switching between USB3.0t and USB2.0, with strong compatibility.

[0051] Third, a DP switching module is provided to realize the external display device expansion of two hosts.

[0052] Fourth, the switching of two uplink signals can be achieved through software and hardware, further improving the ease of use.

[0053] Fifth, two hosts can be charged at the same time during use.

[0054] Finally, it should be noted that the terms "comprises", "includes" or any other variants thereof as used herein are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, an element defined by the phrase "comprises a ..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device including the element.

[0055] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned optimal implementation mode. Anyone should be aware that any structural changes made under the inspiration of the present invention, and any technical solutions that are the same or similar to the present invention, fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A docking station capable of switchably connecting to a plurality of upstream hosts, comprising a first upstream port and a downstream port, characterized in that: Also includes a second uplink port, The DP signal terminal and the RX / TX signal terminal of the first upstream port are respectively connected to the first DP signal terminal and the RX / TX signal terminal of the DP / USB multiplexer, the SSTX / SSRX signal terminal of the DP / USB multiplexer and the SSTX / SSRX signal terminal of the second upstream port are respectively connected to the first and second SSTX / SSRX signal terminals of the USB3.0 data switch, and the third SSTX / SSRX signal terminal of the USB3.0 data switch is connected to the USB expansion module, which is used to implement USB HUB expansion to connect more USB devices; The control pin of the USB3.0 data switch is connected to the PD control module, and the PD control module is connected to the switch module. The PD control module generates a switching instruction through the switch module to control the USB3.0 data switch to switch the first and second SSTX / SSRX signals of the first upstream port and the second upstream port; The second DP signal end of the DP / USB multiplexer and the DP signal end of the second upstream port are respectively connected to the first and second DP signal ends of the DP switching module as two DP inputs. The DP output end of the DP switching module is connected to the DP-HDMI conversion module. After converting the DP signal into an HDMI signal, it is output by the HDMI interface. The control pin of the DP switching module is connected to the PD control module through the I2C bus. Through the switch module, the DP switching module is controlled to switch the DP input signals of the first upstream port and the second upstream port, and output them to the DP-HDMI conversion module. The DP / DM signal ends of the first upstream port and the second upstream port are respectively connected to the first and second DP / DM signal ends of the USB2.0 data switch, the third DP / DM signal end of the USB2.0 data switch is connected to the USB expansion module, and the control pin of the USB2.0 data switch is connected to the PD control module. Through the switch module, the PD control module generates a switching instruction to control the USB2.0 data switch to switch the DP / DM signals of the first upstream port and the second upstream port.

2. The expansion dock capable of switchably connecting to a plurality of upstream hosts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The switch module is controlled by a key switch, and the key switch adopts an electronic key or a touch key.

3. The expansion dock capable of switchably connecting to a plurality of upstream hosts according to claim 1, characterized in that: Through the USB expansion module, you can get a Type C interface and two USB interfaces.

4. The expansion dock capable of switchably connecting to a plurality of upstream hosts according to claim 3, characterized in that: The USB expansion module is also connected to a USB multi-port repeater to further expand the SD\TF card reader interface, audio interface and RJ45 interface.

5. The expansion dock capable of switchably connecting to a plurality of upstream hosts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The PD control module is connected to the charging management module, which supplies power to the first upstream port and the downstream port through VBUS. The power management module draws power from VBUS, and the PD control module supplies power to the second upstream port through I2C control.

6. The expansion dock capable of switchably connecting to a plurality of upstream hosts according to claim 1, characterized in that: The expansion dock includes but is not limited to a Dock, a dongle and a hub.

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