Serial Port Pin Voltage Control via BIOS Settings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing serial communication technologies lack the flexibility to accommodate various power requirements of different serial devices connected through a serial port, as they often require specific voltage configurations that are not universally compatible.
Innovation Solution
The system allows independent control of serial port pin voltages, enabling users to specify and apply different voltage levels to individual pins through BIOS settings, ensuring compatibility with a range of serial devices by using a circuit that processes user-defined inputs to provide appropriate voltages to the DCD and RI pins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a computing device is configured to provide a certain amount of power to a certain serial port pin, then the configuration is optimized for specific serial devices, but these configurations are not compatible with serial devices requiring different amounts of power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the serial port power supply into independent controllable segments (individual pins), allowing each pin to receive different voltage levels independently. This segmentation enables the system to accommodate different power requirements of various serial devices without requiring a complete redesign of the power supply architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic voltage control for serial port pins through BIOS settings, allowing the voltage levels to be adjusted and changed based on the specific requirements of connected devices. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to switch between different power configurations rather than being fixed to a single configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed voltage configurations are used for serial port pins, then the device structure is simple, but the system cannot accommodate serial devices with different power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal serial port interface that can support multiple different voltage configurations through a single hardware design. By incorporating voltage control circuitry and BIOS configuration capabilities, the same physical serial port can be adapted to work with various devices having different power requirements, eliminating the need for multiple specialized port designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters (voltage levels) of serial port pins based on the requirements of connected devices. This is achieved through voltage control circuits that can adjust the output voltage of individual pins, allowing the system to adapt to different device specifications without changing the physical hardware structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Example implementations relate to serial port pin voltages. For example, an apparatus includes a first input device to receive a first input based on a setting, a second input device to receive a second input based on the setting, and a third input device to receive a third input based on the setting. The apparatus also includes a circuit coupled to the first input device, the second input device, and the third input device. In response to the first input, the second input, and the third input, the circuit is to provide a first voltage to a first pin of a serial port and a second voltage to a second pin of the serial port. The first voltage and the second voltage are defined by the setting.