USB Type-C Control Circuit for Direct Slave Device Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

The USB type-C interface limits communication between multiple slave devices connected to a host device, requiring the host device to be in an operation state for data exchange, leading to increased power consumption and potential delays in user response, thereby affecting usability.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with USB type-C interfaces and a control circuit that forms a communication path between slave devices using chosen terminals, allowing them to communicate directly without needing the host device to be in an operation state, using bi-phase mark coding (BMC) protocol for data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the host device is kept in operation state to enable communication between slave devices, then communication capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a docking station as an intermediary device that mediates communication between slave devices. The docking station includes a control circuit that establishes communication paths between slave devices without requiring the host device to be in operation state, thus enabling slave-to-slave communication while keeping the host in sleep mode to reduce power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the communication function by separating host-device communication from slave-device communication. The control circuit in the docking station independently manages communication paths between slave devices, allowing this segment to operate autonomously without activating the host device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the host device is kept in operation state to enable communication between slave devices, then communication capability is improved, but response time deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The docking station acts as an intermediary that directly manages communication between slave devices, eliminating the need for host device activation. This reduces response time by handling communication requests locally without waking the host from sleep mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit in the docking station is pre-configured to establish communication paths between slave devices. When slave devices are connected, the control circuit proactively sets up the communication infrastructure, so when communication is needed, the path is already established and the host doesn't need to be woken up

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11249936B2Method of communication between multiple devices using USB type-C interface and electronic device implementing same

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method and electronic device for communicating multi devices that use universal serial bus (USB) type-C are provided. The electronic device includes at least one or more interfaces formed as USB type-C, and at least one control circuit electrically connected to the interface. The control circuit may be configured to form a communication path, through chosen terminals of the interfaces, between at least two or more external devices connected to the interfaces.