Expansion Card Pin Reduction Through Software-Based Mode Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current expansion card solutions require dedicated hardware pins for detecting device modes, leading to increased size, cost, and complexity, limiting sensor implementation and user experience enhancement.

Innovation Solution

A software-driven approach that utilizes the electronic device's system resources to detect operating modes, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware pins and enabling a unified hardware/software platform across various OEM devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dedicated hardware pins are used to detect device modes in expansion cards, then the ability to detect and respond to device modes is improved, but the device complexity, size, and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice mode detection capabilityVSAvoidhardware pin requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical hardware pin-based detection system with a software-based detection system. The expansion card uses software to detect device modes by interacting with the host device's existing sensors and system resources, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware pins while maintaining mode detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the expansion card's mode detection mechanism universal by leveraging the host device's existing sensors and system resources. Instead of requiring device-specific hardware pins, the expansion card uses a standardized software interface that works across different host devices, enabling multi-functionality and broader compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If dedicated hardware pins are allocated for sensor information in expansion cards, then the ability to leverage sensor information is improved, but the bill of materials cost and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor information utilizationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical allocation of dedicated hardware pins with a software-based information exchange mechanism. The expansion card communicates with the host device's sensors through software interfaces and existing data buses, eliminating the need for additional physical pins and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If dedicated hardware pins are used for expansion card interfaces, then the reliability of communication is improved, but the size and cost of the expansion card increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface communication reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of hardware pins

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the physical hardware pin-based communication interface with a software-based communication mechanism. The expansion card uses existing data buses and software protocols to communicate with the host device, maintaining communication reliability while reducing the number of physical pins required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12353342B2Hardware connector pin reduction for expansion slot interfaces

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 INTEL CORP

AI summary

The proposed techniques enable dynamic hardware and software (HW/SW) configurations to enable an expansion card to be adapted for use in various original equipment manufacturer (OEM) devices. The techniques use a software-based solution to detect device modes, states, etc. of a device in which the expansion card is implemented by leveraging the device's system resources. In doing so, the need for dedicated hardware pins and general purpose input-output (GPIO) pins, which are otherwise required to detect the current operating mode of the device using hardware-based solutions, are eliminated.