Dual-Channel Data Transmission Without Microcontroller Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data transmission methods between auxiliary devices and terminal devices, such as keyboards and tablets, are inefficient and costly, with high performance requirements and limited universality due to the need for state switching and the use of microcontrollers, leading to suboptimal user experience.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a data transmission method that utilizes a combination of hardware channels and short-distance wireless channels, such as Bluetooth or ZigBee, to transmit different types of data, allowing the terminal device to replace microcontrollers with system-on-chip technology, reducing costs and eliminating state switching, and enabling flexible channel selection based on data requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If microcontrollers are used for data transmission control, then data transmission can be achieved, but device costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice costVSAvoidmicrocontroller requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the microcontroller from the system by implementing data transmission control directly through the system-on-chip's general input/output ports, eliminating the need for separate microcontroller hardware and thereby reducing device cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system-on-chip's general input/output ports are made multi-functional, serving both as general-purpose I/O and as dedicated data transmission channels, which eliminates the need for specialized microcontroller hardware while maintaining transmission functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If state switching is implemented for data transmission, then bidirectional communication is achieved, but performance requirements and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance requirementVSAvoidstate switching mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data transmission system into two independent hardware channels: a first channel dedicated to auxiliary device-to-terminal transmission and a second channel dedicated to terminal-to-auxiliary device transmission. This segmentation eliminates the need for state switching while achieving bidirectional communication, thereby reducing performance requirements and system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If a single transmission channel is used for all data, then system simplicity is maintained, but transmission efficiency and accuracy for different data types deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidchannel configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different transmission channels to different data types based on their specific requirements: the first channel is optimized for auxiliary device data transmission while the second channel handles terminal device responses, allowing each channel to be tuned for its specific function and thereby improving overall transmission efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enhances data transmission efficiency, reduces costs by approximately $2 per device, improves accuracy and response time, and increases user experience by meeting varying data delay and security requirements through optimized channel selection.

Implementation Method 1

The terminal device supplies power to the auxiliary device through the first interface and the second interface after it is detected that the terminal device is connected to the auxiliary device, wherein the detection is completed by using a Hall sensor disposed in the terminal device and a magnet disposed in the auxiliary device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHall effect: Hall Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4481542B1Data transmission method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4481542B1 patent drawingFigure 1(1)~2
  • EP4481542B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4481542B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a data transmission method and apparatus. The data transmission method is applied to a terminal device, the terminal device is connected to an auxiliary device through a first interface, a second interface, and a third interface, and the method includes: The terminal device supplies power to the auxiliary device through the first interface and the second interface after it is detected that the terminal device is connected to the auxiliary device. The terminal device establishes a first transmission channel between a receiver pin of the terminal device and a transmitter pin of the auxiliary device through the third interface. The first transmission channel is a hardware channel from the auxiliary device to the terminal device. The terminal device receives, through the first transmission channel, first data sent by the auxiliary device. The terminal device sends second data to the auxiliary device through a second transmission channel. The second transmission channel is different from the first transmission channel.