Power switch apparatus of universal serial bus device

Details Power switch apparatus of universal serial bus device Power switch apparatus of universal serial bus device

2000-03-16

2001-08-28

Bradley, Paula (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Solid contact

Reciprocating actuator

C200S050010

Reexamination Certificate

active

06281457

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a power switch apparatus, and more specifically to a power switch apparatus of universal serial bus (USB) device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Universal serial bus (USB), a new I/O standard promoted by main computer industrials, has been widely accepted by computer market. Since the USB port unifies many traditional I/O ports, such as serial ports, parallel ports, and PS/2 ports, into a single specification, it simplifies the usage of I/O ports. According to the specification, the USB port includes four wires, in which two wires convey digital information from port to port. The other two wires of USB port transmit electric power to drive peripheral devices connected thereon. For expanding the number of peripheral devices communicating with USB ports, many USB hubs may couple together to a host root hub, namely a computer, to build up a Tier-Star connection.
Typically, the USB hub includes at least a USB port and a direct current (DC) socket. In bus power mode, the host root hub transmits electric power through the two power lines of the USB port to drive the USB hub. Similarly, the USB hub transmits electric power to drive peripheral devices connected with it. In the present USB specification, the two power lines of USB port only convey electric current in about 100 mA. For some low power-consuming devices, this electric current is sufficient. However, for some high power-consuming devices, this electric current would not be able to drive them. In the cases of high power-consuming devices, the USB hub must be operated in external power mode by importing electric power through the DC socket. Thus, by selectively employing the USB port and DC socket, the USB hub would always drives the peripheral devices connected thereon.
Although the USB hub receives electric power selectively from the USB port or DC socket, it exits a problem of electrical interference, which is due to using the USB port and DC socket at the same time. When the electrical interference happens, the USB hub has no schemes to distinguish the two power modes, so that some errors or even more serious damages may happen. Therefore, there is a huge need to prevent the USB hub from occurring the electrical interference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective of this invention is to provide a power switch apparatus for preventing the electrical interference, which is due to the USB port and DC socket in use at the same time, from happening.
A power switch apparatus of USB device comprises a slide switch, cover, and socket door. The slide switch encased in the universal serial bus device selects the USB device to be operated in either the bus power mode or the external power mode by turning a control rod of the slide switch. The socket door movably fits in an inner face of the cover, which is mounted on the USB device. A knob extends from an outer side of the socket door passing through and being confined by a window of the cover. When the knob rests at a first extreme point of the window to expose the DC socket of the USB device, a flange protruding form an inner side of the socket door shifts the control rod of the slide switch to a first position that enables the DC socket and suspends the USB port. Otherwise, When the knob rests at a second extreme point of the window to shield the DC socket of the USB device, a flange protruding form an inner side of the socket door shifts the control rod of the slide switch to a second position that enables the USB port and suspends the DC socket. Therefore, by pushing the knob, the USB device is always operated in either the bus power mode or the external power mode. In other words, the power switch apparatus prevents the electrical interference, which is due to the USB port and DC socket in use at the same time, from happening.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3784765 (1974-01-01), Daly
patent: 3839614 (1974-10-01), Saganowski et al.
patent: 4886946 (1989-12-01), Franks, Jr.
patent: 5315079 (1994-05-01), Gierut
patent: 6084192 (2000-07-01), Honma

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